Meta Names Connor Hayes as New Head of Threads Amid Threads Growth
Meta has appointed Connor Hayes, Vice President of Product for Generative AI, as the new head of Threads. This leadership change comes as Threads experiences rapid user growth, reaching more than 350 million monthly active users and challenging X’s dominance in social media.
Connor Hayes’ AI Background Fuels Threads Growth
Connor Hayes brings strong AI expertise to his new role. Since April 2023, he has been Meta’s Vice President of Product for Generative AI, driving key initiatives that enhance user experience through intelligent features. His 14-year career at Meta includes building the original Threads prototype before its 2023 launch. Hayes will start leading Threads by mid-September, reporting to Instagram head Adam Mosseri. Axios reports that his background positions Threads well for integrating AI-driven improvements.
Threads Growth Accelerates vs. X User Metrics
Threads is closing the daily active user gap with X (formerly Twitter). As of June 2025, Threads hit 115.1 million daily active users, growing 127.8% year-over-year, while X recorded 132 million daily users but with a declining rate of -15.2%. In the U.S., Threads leads with 28 million daily users compared to X’s 22 million, according to Apptopia. Globally, X still holds more monthly users (550–600 million) than Threads (320–350 million), but Threads added roughly 200 million users since its July 2023 launch, outpacing X’s growth of 50 million users.
350 Million Monthly Users Milestone Highlights Threads Growth
Meta confirmed Threads surpassed 350 million monthly active users in Q1 2025 during its earnings call, marking a faster growth pace. CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted Threads gained 30 million users in Q1 2025, up from 20 million in the prior quarter. User engagement also rose by 35%, propelled by improved recommendation algorithms. Although Threads still trails X’s 600 million monthly users, its rapid growth and improved engagement signal it is steadily closing the gap. More details on the milestone can be found on Meta’s official blog.
