Meta’s Threads reaches 500 million monthly users

Meta has announced that its Threads social networking platform has surpassed 500 million monthly active users, marking a significant milestone for the text-based service as it approaches its third anniversary next month.

The company revealed that Threads added around 100 million monthly users since August last year, bringing its total monthly audience to more than half a billion people worldwide. In a recent blog post, Meta attributed much of the platform’s recent momentum to its communities feature, which it said has helped users connect around shared interests and discussions.

The latest figures highlight Threads’ continued expansion in an increasingly competitive social media market. While the platform benefited from strong early growth following its launch, Meta said recent gains are increasingly being driven by users engaging directly with the app rather than being directed from its other services.

Growth shifts beyond Meta’s ecosystem

Threads launched with significant support from Meta’s wider network of platforms. The service leveraged users’ existing Instagram connections, making it easier for people to establish a presence and build audiences quickly. Popular Threads posts were also prominently featured within Instagram and Facebook feeds, helping to attract additional users during the platform’s early stages.

However, Meta now claims that user behaviour is changing. According to the company, a growing number of people are opening Threads directly rather than through links or recommendations from other Meta-owned applications. This suggests that the platform is developing its own audience and engagement patterns independent of Instagram and Facebook.

The company also highlighted strong growth across parts of Asia. Meta reported increased engagement in countries such as South Korea and Japan. Time spent on the platform has risen significantly compared with the previous year, increasing by 80 per cent in South Korea and 130 per cent in Japan.

Despite sharing monthly user figures, Meta has not provided updated daily active user numbers. The company last disclosed its daily active user count in October, when Threads reached 150 million. When asked about current daily activity levels, Meta stated that the metric is “growing strongly year-over-year globally” but did not release any specific figures.

The lack of updated daily user data makes it difficult to assess how frequently people use the platform. Monthly user numbers typically present a broader picture of reach, while daily activity figures offer greater insight into ongoing engagement.

Revenue questions remain despite rapid expansion

Reaching 500 million monthly users represents a major achievement for Threads and supports long-term ambitions previously outlined by Meta leadership. Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has previously suggested that Threads could eventually grow into a platform with one billion users.

While audience growth has been strong, the service has yet to become a significant contributor to Meta’s financial performance. Earlier this year, the company expanded its advertising on Threads to 200 countries, opening up new monetisation opportunities.

However, Meta executives have indicated that the platform is still in the early stages of its commercial development. During comments made in April, Meta Chief Financial Officer Susan Li said the company does not expect Threads to become a “meaningful driver” of revenue growth in 2026.

This cautious outlook suggests that Meta is prioritising long-term user growth and engagement before seeking substantial financial returns from the platform. The approach mirrors strategies previously used with other Meta products, where audience expansion was often established before significant advertising activity was introduced.

As competition among social media platforms intensifies, Threads’ ability to retain users and encourage regular participation will likely play a key role in determining its future business value.

New features focus on communities and personalisation

Alongside the latest user milestone, Meta has announced several new features designed to improve the Threads experience. Many of the updates focus on strengthening community engagement within the platform.

One addition is a discovery hub intended to help users find communities and groups that match their interests more easily. Meta is also introducing contributor badges that recognise leading participants within these communities, providing greater visibility for active members.

The company is further expanding its recently introduced live chat feature. Initially launched to a limited audience, the functionality is expected to become available to all Threads users by July, allowing more people to participate in real-time discussions.

Threads is also introducing new personalisation controls under the “your algo” feature. The update allows users to influence the content recommendations they receive more privately. Previously, users could request temporary changes to recommendations by creating posts beginning with the phrase “dear algo”.

Under the new system, these preference adjustments will remain private rather than being publicly visible. However, the controls will continue to operate temporarily. Users will need to update their preferences periodically to keep recommendation changes in effect.

The new tools reflect Meta’s ongoing efforts to make Threads feel more relevant and responsive to individual users while maintaining the platform’s recommendation systems. As the service continues to grow, these features may play an important role in helping users discover conversations and communities that match their interests.