Threads Continues to See Strong Download Momentum in June

Threads continues to see strong download momentum, while AI apps continue to rise, according to the latest data from app analytics provider AppFigures.

As you can see, OpenAI’s ChatGPT was the most downloaded app in the world in June, holding the top spot for a second consecutive month.

Though Google’s Gemini app is now also rising, and Meta claims that its AI assistant is the most used AI tool in the world at present.

But ChatGPT has a big advantage, in that its name is now synonymous with AI use. OpenAI has arguably gained significant first-mover advantage in this respect, with the brand name intrinsically tied to AI as a function, which will likely help it maintain its place in the broader AI race.

On the social media front, TikTok beat out Instagram on total downloads for the month, while Meta continues to dominate the overall chart, with four of the top six most downloaded apps.

And as noted, Threads continues to see strong interest.

Meta’s Twitter clone app continues to gain ground on Elon Musk’s X, and with Meta now testing a new option that would enable users to sign up for a Threads account by using their Facebook credentials, it could be on the verge of another big boost in download numbers.

As of April, Threads was up to 350 million active users, and closing in fast on X’s 600 million actives. Threads is also now reportedly very close to besting X’s mobile usage numbers, and it does seem viable that Threads could indeed overtake X on overall usage numbers before the year is out.

Of course, that also depends on X sharing accurate user numbers, as a true comparison of user engagement.

For example, Elon Musk reported that X increased its active user count to 600 million per month back in March, yet in April, X’s official, auditable EU user count, which it has to report as part of its regulatory requirements, showed a 10.5% decline in EU users since August last year.

So X is claiming that it's gaining more users, but its official data displays the opposite.

Take that as you will.

In any event, it does seem like Threads is now posing a serious threat to X, and as more users and communities merge across, it may well be able to use that conversational momentum to become a bigger player in the social media space.

From a marketing perspective, that may not mean a heap, as you need to be focused on where your specific target audience is engaging. But more audience reach, combined with Meta’s advancing AI ad targeting, could make Threads a more viable consideration on this front too.