Meta's Threads Surpasses 100 Million Users in Under a Week, Despite Missing Key Features

In an extraordinary feat, Meta's latest social media entrant, Threads, has experienced meteoric growth, amassing over 100 million users within a mere five days since its debut. This remarkable success is substantiated by data from Quiver Quantitative's Threads Tracker, painting a picture of unprecedented adoption in the world of social networking. One key contributing factor to this rapid ascent is Threads' strategic association with Instagram, a sibling platform in the Meta conglomerate. 

The synergy between the two platforms allows for a seamless transition, enabling Instagram's vast user base, which exceeds a billion individuals, to effortlessly join Threads. However, it's important to note that as of now, Threads remains unavailable in the European Union, where regulatory considerations may be influencing its rollout.

While Threads' rapid rise is undeniable, it's crucial to recognize that the platform currently lacks some features that many users consider indispensable. For instance, there are limited accessibility options, with no means to append alt text to images for users reliant on screen readers. Additionally, the search functionality is constrained to usernames, and hashtag support is conspicuously absent. Perhaps the most glaring omission is the absence of a chronological feed, a fundamental feature for keeping up with real-time updates. 

Threads currently employs an algorithmic feed that tends to feature brands, influencers, and celebrities, which can make it challenging for users to stay connected with the posts of friends and family. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that a chronological feed is reportedly in development, promising to address this particular concern.

Despite Threads' impressive growth, it's unlikely to pose a direct challenge to Twitter, especially for users seeking up-to-the-minute news and content. Unlike Twitter, Threads is not currently equipped with a chronological feed, a feature that Twitter users find essential for tracking unfolding events and discussions. While political and hard news content may inevitably find its way onto Threads, Instagram Head Adam Mosseri emphasized that the platform's primary goal is not to replace Twitter. 

He pointed out that Threads aims to focus on vibrant communities related to various interests, such as sports, music, fashion, beauty, and entertainment, rather than delving into the realms of politics and hard news. Mosseri cited concerns about potential negative impacts, scrutiny, and integrity risks that often accompany such content on social media platforms. The Threads Tracker by Quiver Quantitative relies on data gathered from Instagram users' profiles to estimate the platform's user growth. 

According to Christopher Kardatzke, co-founder of Quiver Quantitative, the tool analyzes the profiles of individuals who have joined Threads, providing insights into their position in the sign-up queue and offering a general estimate of the number of users who have registered. These estimates appear to align with Mark Zuckerberg's updates on Threads' user milestones, further substantiating the platform's rapid ascent in the social media landscape.