: Meta’s Threads has hit 70 million signups, Mark Zuckerberg says

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Just two days after making its debut, Meta Platforms Inc.’s META, -0.50% Twitter rival, Threads, has hit 70 million sign-ups, says Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

“70 million sign ups on Threads as of this morning,” Zuckerberg posted on Threads Friday. “Way beyond our expectations.”

Opinion: Meta’s Threads has major momentum — initially. Sustaining it will be key.

On Friday evening, Quiver Quantitative estimated there are now over 75 million Threads users. Quiver Quantitative’s numbers were generated using the Threads account numbers shown on Instagram pages.

Meta’s META, -0.50% stock ended Friday’s session down 0.5%, after ending Thursday’s session down 2.4%.

Related news: Meta is in good shape — even without Threads and its strong debut

Paolo Pescatore, technology analyst at PP Foresight, told MarketWatch that this feels like an opportune moment to launch a new rival to Twitter. “With all the euphoria around other social-media platforms, there does not seem to be a distinct rival to Twitter (for now),” he explained via email. “Since Musk’s takeover, the company has been on a roller coaster.”

Read this next: Threads app: Here’s what to know before joining

“This launch will no doubt create more twists and turns,” Pescatore added. “The latest chapter in the Musk and Twitter saga and user discontent clearly demonstrates the need for a true alternative.”