Here are six key reasons why the open-source platform may struggle to dethrone X.
1Mastodon Hasnt Appealed to the Masses
Arguably Xs biggest advantage is that it appeals to the masses.
If Mastodon wants to replace X in the long run, it needs to appeal to a broader audience.
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TikTok is one prime example.
Nonetheless, changing consumer behaviors and preferences is challenging.
Instead, Mastodon relies largely on donations.
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According to its2022 financial report, the company received over $300,000 in donations during 2022.
And in December, the number of active users surpassed 2.5 million.
Although Xs monthly active users have declined year-on-year since 2022, the platform still has a significant user base.
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According toStatista, the app has 335.7 million monthly active users in 2024.
For Mastodon to replace X, it would need to have its late 2022 growth for a sustained period.
Considering that the platform now also has to compete with Threads, this is very unlikely.
But for now, Xs biggest threat is probably Threads.
