Threads reaches 500M users, adds personalization features
Original: Threads adds new personalization and community features as it reaches 500M monthly users
Why This Matters
Threads' 500M user milestone and differentiated personalization features strengthen Meta's position against X in social media competition.
Meta's Threads social platform announced 500 million monthly active users and launched new features including Your Algo tool for personalized feed control and Communities Hub for topic-based discovery on June 16, 2026.
Threads, Meta's social platform launched nearly three years ago as a X competitor, reached 500 million monthly active users, the company announced Tuesday. The platform introduced several new features launching immediately. The Your Algo feature allows users to privately control their feed by specifying topics they want to see more or less of, with request durations of one, three, or seven days. This builds on the February-launched Dear Algo tool that required public posts for feed preferences. Your Algo is rolling out in the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Threads also expanded its Communities feature out of beta, offering dedicated spaces for discussions on topics like basketball, television, K-pop, and books. A new Communities Hub enables easier discovery of communities, with distinct icons added for recognition. Instagram head Connor Hayes stated the hub addresses challenges users faced finding relevant communities organically. Additionally, Threads expanded Live Chats to more communities starting in July, enabling real-time conversations during cultural events. Users can now co-host chats and quote moments to their feed. Hayes noted that users appreciate Threads' quieter environment compared to video-centric social platforms, with Live Chats serving as a second-screen experience for event viewing.