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Nearly two years after its launch, Meta is testing out a new feature that seems overdue: direct messaging (DMs) on Threads.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Mark Zuckerberg himself both announced that DMs are now in its initial testing phase, rolling out to users in Hong Kong, Argentina, and Thailand. Yet, as the news breaks, the reception has not been overly positive: for many, the very absence of DMs had become a defining, even cherished, aspect of Threads.
Threads Messaging = Instagram DMs
Since its inception, Threads' approach to messaging has been, to put it mildly, clunky. It did allow users to send Threads posts to friends, but it sent these messages straight to Instagram DMs, forcing users to switch apps back and forth. What's more confusing is that these posts couldn't even be viewed unless that friend has a Threads account.
For a long time, Meta executives, particularly Mosseri, has suggested that the Instagram inbox was the Threads inbox. However it seems that stance is shifting with the announcement of a Threads-specific inbox.
According to Endgadget, this dedicated inbox for Threads will support only 1:1 chats for now, making it far more limited than messaging features found on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), which offer group chats and broadcast channels. It's unclear whether Threads DMs will come with texts and photo capabilities or voice messages.
Meta says that plans to expand this feature to more regions will be coming "soon".
Threads Finding Themselves In A Tangle
For many Threads users, the lack of DMs became a primary reason to actually prefer Threads. In a social media landscape saturated with constant notifications, message requests, and the unspoken pressure to respond, Threads offered a place for public conversation, for scrolling through updates without the immediate demand for a private reply. It was also a safer space for those who wished not to spammed by weird messages.
We'll see if Threads can ensure robust encryption and introduce features that can truly set its DMs apart from its sister app, Instagram. Direct messages on Threads are happening whether or not if you like it. Stay updated with ProductNation on here, Instagram & TikTok as well.
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