Meta is preparing to roll out a long-anticipated messaging function within its Threads platform, removing the current reliance on Instagram for private conversations. This week, the company begins testing the internal direct messaging capability, initially in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Argentina, before scaling the feature to additional markets.
Instead of routing messages through Instagram’s infrastructure, Threads will handle them natively using a standalone inbox. The change marks a shift away from the previous approach, where Threads activity was tightly coupled with Instagram accounts, everything from sign-up credentials to the automatic syncing of follower lists depended on the older platform.
Access to the new inbox comes through a redesigned interface. On mobile devices, both iOS and Android, users can tap a newly added envelope icon situated along the bottom navigation bar. Desktop users will find the messaging symbol placed on the left-hand panel. Meta has yet to provide a specific timeline for a broader rollout beyond the initial test regions.
The lack of private communication tools has been a persistent complaint from the Threads user base. Until now, those wishing to engage in one-on-one exchanges had to switch apps and initiate chats on Instagram. Introducing a dedicated messaging layer on Threads not only streamlines communication but also caters to creators and business accounts that often juggle engagement across multiple platforms.
The move signals Meta’s intent to refine Threads into a fuller social media ecosystem, one that could eventually rival competitors like X (formerly Twitter), which has long provided integrated messaging as a core component.
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Instead of routing messages through Instagram’s infrastructure, Threads will handle them natively using a standalone inbox. The change marks a shift away from the previous approach, where Threads activity was tightly coupled with Instagram accounts, everything from sign-up credentials to the automatic syncing of follower lists depended on the older platform.
Access to the new inbox comes through a redesigned interface. On mobile devices, both iOS and Android, users can tap a newly added envelope icon situated along the bottom navigation bar. Desktop users will find the messaging symbol placed on the left-hand panel. Meta has yet to provide a specific timeline for a broader rollout beyond the initial test regions.
The lack of private communication tools has been a persistent complaint from the Threads user base. Until now, those wishing to engage in one-on-one exchanges had to switch apps and initiate chats on Instagram. Introducing a dedicated messaging layer on Threads not only streamlines communication but also caters to creators and business accounts that often juggle engagement across multiple platforms.
The move signals Meta’s intent to refine Threads into a fuller social media ecosystem, one that could eventually rival competitors like X (formerly Twitter), which has long provided integrated messaging as a core component.
Read next:
• TikTok and ChatGPT Took the Lead in Mobile App Revenue as Spending Jumped in May
