Since its launch, Instagram’s new messaging app Threads has gained significant traction, positioning itself as a potential rival to Twitter. While Threads has soared into the double-digit millions in terms of downloads, another Twitter alternative, Bluesky, has reached a milestone of its own. Despite remaining invite-only, Bluesky has surpassed a million downloads across iOS and Android platforms. In this article, we delve into the growth and progress of both Threads and Bluesky, highlighting their unique journeys in the competitive social media landscape.
Threads: Impressive Growth and Integration with Instagram’s Social Graph: Threads, which seamlessly integrates with Instagram’s social graph, has witnessed remarkable growth since its release. The app’s popularity continues to rise, with downloads reaching the double-digit millions. Its ability to offer a more personal and focused messaging experience within the Instagram ecosystem has appealed to users seeking intimate connections and interactions.
Bluesky: Reaching a Million Downloads Milestone Amidst Invite-Only Model: Bluesky, another contender in the Twitter alternative space, has achieved a notable milestone by surpassing a million downloads across iOS and Android, despite its invite-only model. Although this number falls short when compared to Twitter’s massive user base, Bluesky has managed to gain traction even with limited availability.
Comparison of Numbers: Threads vs. Twitter vs. Bluesky: While Threads and Bluesky have made strides in their respective markets, the numbers show the contrasting scale of their achievements. Threads, closely integrated with Instagram, has seen exponential growth, while Twitter continues to dominate with an average of 518,000 new downloads per day. Bluesky, with around 8,300 first-time installs per day, has shown steady progress given its invite-only status.
Bluesky’s Growth Challenges and Potential: Bluesky faced challenges during its growth journey, including a temporary pause in sign-ups due to high demand driven by Twitter’s decision to limit the visibility of tweets. Despite this setback, Bluesky managed to register an estimated 300,000 new installs since June 30. The app’s user base is primarily located in the United States, followed by Brazil, Japan, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
Looking Ahead: Integrations and Monetization: While Bluesky has maintained its invite-only approach, the recent launch of Threads, which promises to integrate with ActivityPub, presents a new challenge. ActivityPub powers Mastodon, a decentralized social network that also serves as a Twitter alternative. Bluesky, on the other hand, is developing its own decentralized social networking protocol, the AT Protocol. Additionally, Bluesky announced $8 million in seed funding and introduced its first paid service, custom domains, signaling its intent to explore alternative revenue streams.
The growth of Instagram’s Threads and Bluesky showcases the evolving landscape of social media alternatives. Threads’ integration with Instagram’s social graph and the personalized messaging experience it offers have contributed to its success. Meanwhile, Bluesky’s invite-only model hasn’t hindered its progress, with the app surpassing a million downloads. As both platforms continue to develop and face new challenges, the competition within the Twitter alternative space intensifies. Users and industry observers eagerly await further developments and innovations from Threads, Bluesky, and other emerging players in the dynamic social media landscape.