Meta's Threads has surpassed Elon Musk's X in daily mobile active users, according to a recent report from market intelligence firm Similarweb, marking a potential shift in the social media landscape. While X maintains its dominance on the web, Threads' mobile app for iOS and Android has experienced consistent growth in daily engagement over the past several months, culminating in a higher number of active users on mobile platforms.

Similarweb's data indicated that Threads boasted 141.5 million daily active users on iOS and Android as of January 7, 2026. In contrast, X recorded 125 million daily active users on mobile devices during the same period. This difference of over 16 million users highlights a significant change in user behavior and platform preference, particularly within the mobile sector.

The shift in mobile usage could have significant implications for advertising revenue and market share. With a larger mobile user base, Threads presents a more attractive platform for advertisers targeting on-the-go consumers. This could potentially draw advertising dollars away from X, impacting its overall revenue stream. Furthermore, the increased mobile engagement on Threads may solidify its position as a key player in the social media market, challenging X's long-held dominance.

Threads, launched by Meta as a text-based conversation app integrated with Instagram, has leveraged cross-promotion strategies to drive user adoption. This integration allows Instagram's massive user base to easily transition to Threads, contributing to its rapid growth. X, formerly known as Twitter, has faced various challenges in recent years, including controversies surrounding content moderation and platform policies. Most recently, users were discovered using the platforms integrated AI, Grok, to create non-consensual nude images of women, including, sometimes minors. Concern around the deepfake images has now prompted California's attorney general to open an investigation into Grok, following similar investigations by other regions, like the UK, EU, India, Brazil, and many more. The drama on X also led social networking startup Bluesky to see an increase in app installs in recent days.

Looking ahead, the competition between Threads and X is likely to intensify. Meta will likely continue to invest in Threads, introducing new features and functionalities to further enhance user engagement. X, under Elon Musk's leadership, will need to address its challenges and innovate to regain its competitive edge in the mobile space. The future of social media may hinge on which platform can best cater to the evolving needs and preferences of mobile users.