Thread traffic plummets, down 82% just a month after launch.
Thread traffic plummets, down 82% just a month after launch.
The Rise and Fall of Threads: A Rollercoaster Ride for Meta
In July, Meta, the parent company of social media giant Facebook, launched Threads, a Twitter-like social media channel. The platform initially saw a massive influx of users, with peak daily usage reaching an impressive 44 million. However, according to recent data reports from Sensor Tower, Threads has experienced a staggering 82% drop in daily active users since its launch on July 5. As of July 31, fewer than 8 million users return to the platform daily, spending an average of just 2.6 minutes and opening the app only three times a day.
This decline in users is not discouraging Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, who anticipates that user numbers will stabilize in the coming months. In a recent statement, Zuckerberg acknowledged the drop-off, stating that it was expected and highlighting the fact that tens of millions of people still return to Threads each day. He expressed confidence in the platform’s future, comparing the current situation to the growth trajectory of other successful Meta platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Stories, and Reels.
While the drop in users is undoubtedly a setback for Threads, it is essential to put these numbers into perspective. Despite the significant decline, Twitter’s user base remains steady at 200 million. Therefore, it is not necessarily a reflection of a larger trend in the social media landscape but rather a specific challenge faced by Threads.
So, why did Threads experience such a massive drop in users? One possible explanation is the novelty factor. When the platform first launched, people rushed to sign up, eager to explore what it had to offer. However, over time, the initial excitement wore off, and users began to lose interest. The rapid decline in average time spent on the app, from 19 minutes at its peak to a mere 2.6 minutes, suggests that users are finding less value in Threads compared to other social media platforms.
Additionally, it is worth noting that Threads’ functionality and features may not have resonated as strongly with users as Meta had hoped. While the platform aimed to provide a Twitter-like experience, it seems that it failed to capture the attention and engagement of users consistently. As a result, people are returning to the app less frequently and spending less time browsing the content.
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It is important to remember that Meta has a track record of successfully turning around struggling platforms. Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta-owned platforms faced their fair share of challenges in the early stages but eventually stabilized and grew into thriving communities. Zuckerberg’s reassurance that the focus for the rest of the year will be on improving the basics and retention indicates that Meta is committed to ensuring Threads’ long-term success.
In conclusion, the decline in daily active users for Threads is undoubtedly a setback for Meta. However, it is not necessarily a cause for alarm. The platform experienced tremendous initial growth but failed to retain users in the long term. Nevertheless, Meta remains optimistic and determined to stabilize the user base by enhancing the user experience and functionality of Threads. Only time will tell if Threads can follow in the footsteps of its Meta predecessors and become a thriving social media community.