Meta’s social media app Threads has finally made its debut in the European Union, five months after its global release, presenting itself as a competitor to Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter.

The delayed launch in the EU was attributed to the region’s stringent data and big tech regulations. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, shared the news on Threads, extending a welcome to new users from across Europe.

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According to a Meta spokesperson, Threads has undergone “significant improvements” since its initial release in other countries in July.

The platform faced a decline in user interest shortly after its launch, partly due to missing features such as a website and search function.

In response, the platform now offers users in the EU the option to create a Threads profile connected to their Instagram account or use Threads without a profile.

Despite initially losing half of its users three weeks after launch, Threads managed to recover some ground through the introduction of new features.

However, it still lags behind X in popularity and has fewer users than other Meta services like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

The reasons behind the delayed launch in the EU were not officially disclosed by Meta, but it is widely believed to be linked to the region’s strict regulatory environment.

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The EU’s Digital Services Act, which imposes additional responsibilities on major tech companies, came into effect in August, focusing on user protection and transparency in platform operations.

Threads, requesting access to extensive data, including location, purchases, and browsing history, may have needed adjustments to align with EU regulations.

In October, Meta addressed EU concerns by announcing subscription services that would eliminate ads from its platforms in most of Europe.

This move followed a €390 million (£335 million) fine Meta received in January for violating EU data rules related to ads.

The subscription model is exclusive to the EU, European Economic Area, and Switzerland, excluding the UK.