X Leads US Social Media Market, Threads and Bluesky Lag Behind

X continues to dominate the social media market in the United States, leaving competitors like Threads and Bluesky far behind. According to the latest Pew Research Center survey of over 5,000 US adults conducted between February and June 2025, both Threads and Bluesky still have a long way to go if they hope to challenge X. Adoption remains low, with only 8% using Threads and 4% on Bluesky, confirming that these newer platforms cannot yet threaten X’s user base.

While X may not be the top overall social platform in the US, it remains the leading choice for short-form, real-time text updates. Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022 and its rebrand as X, along with changes to content policies and political tone, some users sought alternatives. However, many emerging platforms like Mastodon, Spill, Post, T2, or Hive have already failed and shut down, demonstrating the resilience of the short-form text market and X’s strong foothold.

Pew’s figures confirm this trend, showing 21% of US adults using X in 2025, nearly unchanged from 22% in 2024 and 23% in 2021. Threads sits at 8%, Bluesky at 4%, and Truth Social at 3%. Despite some backlash, X’s user base remains stable, especially among Republicans at 24% compared to Democrats at 19%, highlighting how political divisions influence platform choice.

Looking at the broader social media landscape, YouTube leads with 84% of adults, followed by Facebook at 71%. Other platforms continue to grow, with Instagram surpassing 50% and TikTok rising from 21% in 2021 to 37% in 2025. Reddit grew from 18% to 26%, while WhatsApp and Snapchat remain popular, and LinkedIn stands at 31%. This reflects a diversified usage pattern, with users engaging across video platforms and niche communities.

Demographics also play a key role. Teenagers favor YouTube at 85%, followed by TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, reflecting Gen Z and Alpha trends. Older adults over 65 prefer Facebook and YouTube, with only 19% using Instagram. These patterns show that new platforms face demographic limitations, giving X an advantage as a broadly accessible platform.

Overall, Pew’s 2025 report emphasizes that the US social media market remains X’s stronghold. While competitors are trying to gain traction, the low adoption rates for Threads and Bluesky suggest that building a loyal user base will take time. Developers of new platforms should focus on niche features and innovations to penetrate this competitive market.

 origin: Techcrunch