Threads Hits 500 Million Monthly Active Users

Threads has reached 500 million monthly active users, closing the gap with X, which reported approximately 550 million MAU as of May 2026. The milestone comes three years after the app’s launch as a text-based alternative to X.

Meta has continued to invest in community and conversation features to support growth. Communities, initially in beta, are now available to all users. New additions include custom icons for topic groups, expanded recognition for active contributors, a dedicated communities hub in the sidebar, and progress indicators for emerging topics. Live chats have been expanded with co-hosting options and the ability to quote moments to the main feed. Local communities are being introduced, starting with native language support in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

Threads is also rolling out Meta’s Your Algo tool, which allows users to customize their feed by specifying preferences for more or less of certain content types. The feature, already available on Instagram, is launching in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It differs from the earlier Dear Algo system, which enabled in-stream algorithm requests.

Japan represents a strategic focus, given X’s strong performance in that market. Success there could help Threads gain further traction in real-time discussion.