According to recent data, the social media platform, Threads, has added a total of 275 million monthly active users since August 2024. In the US alone, there are 30 million active users – up from 23.7 million in 2023 – and as its popularity spreads, it’s forecasted to grow to 40 million users by the end of 2025.
So why is this the case? One of the biggest reasons why Threads has seen such vast growth in a relatively short space of time is due to X – formerly Twitter – losing followers. In the last few months alone, around 115,000 US users reportedly deleted their X accounts, with high-profilehigh profile users like Stephen King making the transfer over to Threads. Indeed, ever since the divisive figure, Elon Musk, bought Twitter, the platform has experienced a mass exodus, with a projected 13% of users leaving the platform or becoming inactive.
With digital interaction, especially via social media and direct messaging apps, now a critical part of our everyday lives, these users were always going to find a substitute and, in this case, Threads happens to be that substitute. But it’s not the only platform raking in new followers. Hot on its tail is the platform, Bluesky, which has recently hit 20 million users, despite the beta only being launched in 2022.
Is Threads vs Bluesky the Next Big Social Media Battle?
This has made a fair few people ask a very simple question: Is Threads vs Bluesky the next big social media battle? For those unaware, there are multiple social media battles happening every day, with perhaps the most publicised being the fight between Facebook and Twitter around a decade ago.
In 2024, the big social media battle is between TikTok and Instagram, with TikTok currently ahead of the curb with its innovative short-form video format being a hit with millennials the world over. But could Threads and Bluesky be the next one? To answer that, it’s first important to consider what the platforms do differently.
The Thing About Threads
Developed by Meta, Threads is a test-based social media platform designed to compete directly with X. Aiming to provide a space for real-time public conversations, it’s particularly appealing due to its integration with parent site, Instagram, allowing users to link their profiles and bring over their followers without starting from scratch.
The Thing About Bluesky
On the other hand, Bluesky offers a completely different approach to social media, aiming to revolutionise the way users interact online through decentralisation. Originally conceived by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Bluesky operates on the AT Protocol, which is designed to give users more control over their data, with a standout feature being its commitment to customisable algorithms – giving users the chance to create their own algorithms and control how content is curated and prioritised on their feeds.
Threads vs Bluesky
With the differences of both Threads and Bluesky in mind, it’s hard to say who would win this battle, or whether there is even a battle to win. Both platforms offer something very different for users, emphasising different priorities and addressing specific user needs. Threads thrives on its integration with Instagram and its sense of community, while Bluesky appeals to a more tech-savvy, privacy-conscious audience who wants control over their online experiences.
As a result, many people who use Threads also use Bluesky, searching for social media success by leveraging the unique strengths of each platform. Rather than being direct competitors, Threads and Bluesky may serve as complementary tools, managing to not only coexist but thrive alongside each other. If this is indeed the case, the future of the online social space is looking a lot less hostile, and a lot more rosy!
