The Threads vs. X War: Where Are Creators Posting in 2025?

[SAN FRANCISCO] – June 28, 2025

In the evolving landscape of social media, the battle between Meta’s Threads and Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) has intensified. What started as a rivalry in interface and features has now escalated into a full-blown culture war involving content moderation, free speech, and where creators find the most financial success.

Google Trends reveals a sharp rise in searches for “Threads vs Twitter 2025,” underscoring the heated debate among creators, users, and policy analysts alike.

Threads vs X: Who's Winning the Numbers?

According to Google Trends, Threads saw an explosive rise in sign-ups when Meta rolled out new monetization features in early 2025. The feature set, combined with stricter anti-hate speech moderation, has drawn a younger, brand-conscious audience.

Meanwhile, X maintains loyalty among free speech advocates and long-time Twitter power users, but its trust score has dipped following controversial policy shifts by Elon Musk.

📈 In May 2025, Threads surpassed X in weekly active users for the first time, according to Archive.org snapshots of internal Meta dashboards.

What Creators Are Saying

Many creators have taken to Threads to voice frustrations with X’s recent algorithm changes and moderation lapses. On the flip side, some still prefer X’s virality and open access.

“I earn 2x more through Meta’s creator incentives than I ever did on X,” says content strategist @JulesDigital.

“X lets me speak freely, but Threads gives me more brand deals,” posted lifestyle influencer @NeonAva in a viral thread.

Archive.org even captured deleted posts from creators criticizing Musk’s paid verification model, which many felt made visibility more transactional and less authentic.

Censorship vs. Community Safety

This debate has real stakes. In April 2025, Musk faced criticism for allegedly suppressing content from progressive creators, prompting backlash and temporary account deactivations.

Meta, meanwhile, faced a wave of user bans related to political satire, raising flags about over-moderation.

Both platforms walk a tightrope: protect users, or risk being seen as censors.

“Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom of reach,” Musk tweeted earlier this year—an idea that continues to polarize his user base.

UX/UI and Monetization: A Tale of Two Approaches

Threads now offers:

• Seamless IG integration
• No ads in-feed for verified creators
• Built-in tip jars for reels and threads

X’s latest updates:

• Premium+ plan to boost visibility
• Creator ad revenue split (for those with >1M impressions)
• “Boosted Voice” feature (pay-to-pin tweets globally)

Creators are increasingly comparing ROI per post, with Threads reportedly outperforming X in categories like lifestyle, wellness, and education.

What Happens Next?

The battle for social media dominance won’t be decided in follower counts alone. With upcoming elections, policy debates, and evolving AI-generated content regulations, creators may need to choose platforms not just for engagement—but for alignment with their values.

Meta is planning to launch “Threads Studio,” a creator analytics hub, while Musk has teased a blockchain-based reward layer for X.

Which Platform Do You Trust More—Meta or Musk?

For creators and users alike, the choice between Threads and X is no longer just about functionality—it’s about ideology, income, and digital identity.

What do you think: Which platform better supports creators in 2025? Drop your opinion in the comments.

Sources: Google Trends, Archive.org, creator testimonials from Threads/X, public statements from Meta and Elon Musk