In 2025, Threads celebrates its second anniversary with a major milestone—surpassing 400 million monthly active users (MAUs). No longer just Meta’s reactive move against Twitter (now X), Threads has evolved into a modern social ecosystem that embraces open conversation, decentralized networking, and AI-powered innovation.

This article offers a comprehensive look at Threads’ feature evolution, user growth, competitive positioning, and strategic approach—helping developers understand the foundations of what could become the next global social super app.

What Defines a Next-Generation Social Super App?

Unlike traditional social networks, Threads is rapidly transitioning into a social super app, integrating a wide range of capabilities into one unified platform:

• Text, image, and video publishing
• Direct messaging (DMs) and follower networks
• Cross-platform interactions
• Smart content recommendations and personalized timelines
• AI-assisted content creation and discovery
• Creator tools and monetized news feeds

This trajectory mirrors the evolution of super apps like Grab and WeChat, where multi-function integration boosts user engagement, grows data ecosystems, and deepens behavioral insights—setting the foundation for long-term dominance in digital interaction.

Threads: From Copycat to Category Leader

Launched in 2023 by the Instagram team, Threads quickly emerged as a direct competitor to X (formerly Twitter). While it initially appeared as a reactive alternative, the platform has, within two years, evolved through continuous feature upgrades and bold technology bets. It now boasts:

🔹 Over 400 million monthly active users (as of Q2 2025)

🔹 Support for the Fediverse protocol, moving toward an open social network model

🔹 Multi-language content recommendation and strong localization strategiesMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri both emphasize that Threads is no longer just a social network—it's “a new kind of open discussion platform.”

Market Comparison: Threads vs X

Using FoxData's data analytics tools, we compiled a snapshot of how Threads compares to X across key performance metrics:

👀 Observations:

• While X still leads in total MAUs, Threads demonstrates stronger DAU momentum, signaling higher user stickiness and activity rates.
• Threads' web-based user experience is still underdeveloped, representing a critical growth opportunity.
• New features—especially AI functionality and Fediverse integration—are becoming key differentiators, helping Threads establish a unique value proposition.

User Feedback & Sentiment Analysis

Leveraging FoxData’s Review Sentiment Analysis tool, we analyzed Threads’ user reviews on the App Store during Q2 2025 (April 1 – June 30). In total, 1,386 valid reviews were collected, with an average rating of 3.25 out of 5, revealing a polarized sentiment pattern.

Overall, sentiment shows a balanced mix of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, highlighting both the platform's appeal and areas needing refinement—setting the stage for deeper optimization based on user insights.

User Rating Distribution Overview

• 13% of users gave Threads a 5-star rating, indicating clear recognition of the app’s overall functionality and user experience.
• 79% of reviews were rated 1 star, highlighting a notable proportion of dissatisfied users.
• 35% of users gave 3-star ratings, suggesting a neutral stance or mixed feelings about the platform’s performance.

🔍 Keyword Cloud Analysis (Top 25)

The keyword cloud provides further insight into user focus areas and sentiment trends:

• 🟦 Positive Keywords: Words like “love”, “good”, “threads”, and “great” appear regularly in higher-rated reviews, showing user appreciation for the app’s overall positioning, interface, and brand identity.
• 🟧 Neutral or Improvement-Oriented Keywords: Terms such as “post”, “use”, “get”, and “want” appear frequently, reflecting user expectations around content posting, usability flow, and feature enhancements—indicating areas with potential for refinement.
• 🟥 Negative or Concern-Driven Keywords: Words like “fake”, “don”, “have”, and “media” are mentioned across multiple low-rated reviews, signaling user skepticism regarding content authenticity, redundancy, or the platform’s content distribution algorithm.

💡 Tip: Sentiment and keyword analysis is most effective when monitored over a 3–6 month range, particularly before and after major version releases to accurately track user perception shifts and product impact.

Key Takeaways for Developers: Building Next-Gen Social Platforms

Meta’s approach in evolving Threads into a “social super app” offers valuable learnings for developers aiming to break into or lead in the next era of digital platforms:

• Start with a Core Competency: Anchor your product on high-frequency user behavior, such as posting, sharing, or conversation mechanics, before expanding to adjacent services.
• Iterate Based on Feedback: Pay close attention to user sentiment and rapidly deliver requested features like DMs, AI assistance, or tailored feeds.
• Embrace Open Ecosystems: Integrate with open protocols (like Fediverse) to support user sovereignty and cross-platform functionality.
• Empower Creators: Invest in recommendation mechanisms and creator tools to foster a vibrant user-generated content (UGC) economy and tighten community cycles.

🔍 Recommended reading: What's Going on Inside Your Users' Minds? Review Sentiment Analysis Helps You Find Out.

Conclusion & Outlook

Threads is carving out its own path in defining the next generation of digital social interaction—a platform that is more open, intelligent, and participatory by design. Its growth trajectory proves that the super app model is not exclusive to Asia, but rather a global trend arising from the convergence of digital services.

As we reach a pivotal moment in the evolution of social platforms in 2025, developers must look beyond user growth metrics alone. A comprehensive understanding of market positioning, feature architecture, and user sentiment is essential. With tools like FoxData, it becomes possible to capture real-time market dynamics and strategically navigate the next wave of platform innovation.

🚀 Looking to build your own next-gen social super app?

Start using FoxData today to uncover competitor strategies and power your next breakout platform!