Didn't get to include this in the piece unfortunately, but Mastodon has also seen a surge this month, with signups up 27% from October to November so far.

From my convo with Mastodon creator Eugen Rochko (@Gargron):

Threads *does* want to be a primary hub for real-time news,
Mosseri told us — just not news about politics, wars, or hot-button social issues. He said the company has dialed up the recency bias on its "For You" algorithm (originally adapted from Instagram's) to encourage real-time commentary on sports, entertainment, etc.

“It’s still a little bit too slow,” he said. “But we are getting better.” https://wapo.st/4btdz2L

Attracting users has never been Threads' problem. Tens of millions of people desperate for a Twitter alternative flocked to the site literally overnight when it launched. The harder part has been keeping them, which requires carving out an identity beyond "Instagram for text."

Mosseri told us the goal is to create "a less angry place for people to share their ideas." Is that enough? https://wapo.st/4btdz2L