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Controversial Twitter Rival Breaks Record; Threads Reaches 100 Million Users

Feb 6, 2026 February 6, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Threads, a new social media platform launched by Meta, has rapidly gained 100 million users in just five days, posing a significant challenge to Twitter. Despite being blocked in Iran, the platform has attracted notable figures, including Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, who has an account on it. This rapid growth and the competition between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are pivotal in the evolving landscape of social media.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Threads' explosive growth signifies a potential shift in social media power dynamics, particularly affecting platforms like Twitter.

👥 Key Players

Meta MENTIONED
Parent company of Threads
"Meta is a major player in social media, influencing communication and information dissemination globally."
Elon Musk MENTIONED
Owner of Twitter
"Musk's management of Twitter has significantly impacted its user base and operational direction, making him a key figure in the social media landscape."
Ibrahim Raisi MENTIONED
President of Iran
"As the leader of Iran, Raisi's engagement with social media platforms reflects the government's approach to digital communication and public relations."

📰 What Happened

Threads, a new social media platform by Meta, reached 100 million users within five days, challenging Twitter's dominance. Despite being blocked in Iran, it has attracted significant attention, including from Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi.

  • Threads is the fastest-growing online messaging platform, surpassing ChatGPT's growth rate.
  • Ibrahim Raisi's account on Threads was created shortly after the platform's launch, despite the Iranian government's ban on access.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The rapid growth of Threads poses a challenge to the Iranian government's control over information and communication, especially as it seeks to manage public discourse.
🌍 Regional: The emergence of new social media platforms can influence political movements and public opinion across the Middle East.
🌐 International: The competition between major tech companies like Meta and Twitter reflects broader trends in digital governance and freedom of expression globally.

📚 Background

Social media platforms play a crucial role in shaping public discourse and political engagement, especially in countries with restricted freedoms like Iran.

Social media censorship in Iran The impact of social media on political movements
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
Reuters is generally considered a reliable source for news, providing objective reporting on global events.

Threads, the Twitter rival launched by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, reached a record of 100 million users in just five days, making it the fastest-growing online messaging platform. According to a Reuters report, Threads' achievement of 100 million users has turned it into a 'sensation' in the virtual space, as its growth rate has surpassed that of historical ChatGPT. At the same time, this messaging platform has gained significant popularity by attracting celebrities, politicians, and other influential figures, emerging as a 'serious threat' to Twitter. The report states that compared to ChatGPT, which became the fastest 'most consumed' application in history within the first two months of its launch, experts believe that the increase in Threads' user growth has been largely organic and accompanied by minimal advertising. While Twitter had nearly 240 million daily active users before Elon Musk's acquisition, reports indicate that its usage has significantly declined, and its traffic has decreased following the launch of Threads. Earlier, Voice of America reported that just one day after Threads' launch, the Islamic Republic blocked access for people in Iran to this social network, despite the fact that Ibrahim Raisi's office created an account for him on this platform. On Thursday evening, Ibrahim Raisi's account was created on Threads under the address raisi.ir, which, at the time of this report, had over 62,000 followers, although he has not yet posted anything. It seems that Ibrahim Raisi's social media accounts are managed by the staff of the presidential office. The future of the competition between Musk and Zuckerberg; will Threads replace Twitter? Mehdi Yahyanejad responds. Zuckerberg's warning to Elon Musk: you copied/pasted; I'll see you in the cage. Over 30 million members in 24 hours; Threads or Twitter? Differences and similarities. Meta will soon unveil its Twitter rival.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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