According to data tracking websites, the Threads app, launched by Instagram as a competitor to Twitter, has amassed over 100 million users in under five days.
This achievement surpasses the previous record held by the AI tool ChatGPT as the fastest-growing consumer app.
In comparison, it took ChatGPT two months and TikTok nine months to reach the 100 million user milestone, while Instagram itself took two and a half years after its launch in 2010.
Threads became available on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries on Wednesday, excluding Europe due to uncertainties regarding compliance with the European Union’s data privacy legislation imposed by its parent company, Meta.
Although Twitter is estimated to have around 200 million regular users, it has faced numerous technical issues since Elon Musk acquired the platform last year and laid off thousands of employees.
Musk, who also leads Tesla and SpaceX, has also faced backlash from users for introducing charges for previously free services and reinstating banned right-wing accounts.
While several competitors have emerged, most of them are niche platforms lacking the scalability required to overthrow Twitter.
Threads, benefiting from its connection to Instagram, which boasts over one billion regular users, has found it easier to expand. Online data service Quiver Quantitative reported that the app surpassed 100 million users at 0700 GMT on Monday.
Different websites using a count of the “badges” obtained by Instagram users who downloaded Threads suggested that the milestone had been reached earlier.
Musk has threatened to sue Meta for alleged theft of trade secrets and intellectual property, claims that have been denied by the company, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp.
Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg are engaged in a rivalry, with both individuals recently challenging each other to a cage fight.
