Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg still has big plans for Threads as the fledgling social media platform sits under 100 million active users.

In the company’s latest earnings call, Mr. Zuckerberg said he was happy with Threads’ progress three months after launch.

“I’ve thought for a long time that there should be a billion person public conversation app that is a bit more positive,” he said. “And I think that if we keep at this for a few more years, then I think we have a good chance of achieving our vision there.”

When the platform started, it made headlines for amassing 100 million sign-ups within the first few days. However, users soon discovered the barebones nature of the site and moved on. While millions of dedicated monthly users still exist, they’re likely only a fraction of the original 100 million.

If Meta does want the app to support 1 billion users, changes are crucial. One of the most glaring issues involves the site delisting such search topics as vaccines and COVID-19, making it essentially unusable for users who want to follow daily news.

One of the reasons cited for not embracing news was insecurity with the platform’s ability to regulate the wealth of content coming from the Israel-Hamas war. If the platform is able to garner a billion users, it will have to bolster its content moderation teams.

Threads’ goal of becoming a “positive” social media platform puts it at odds with its main competitor X, which has opted for a more decentralized moderation style since Elon Musk took over last year. According to X CEO Linda Yaccarino, X has over 245 million monthly active users.

Threads has made strides toward developing the site since its launch. In recent weeks, the site has added a web version, an edit button and the ability to account switch. It also has been cross-posting on Meta’s other popular platforms Instagram and Facebook in an effort to attract new users. 

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.