After much speculation and user demand, Meta is officially rolling out DMs on Threads, marking a major shift in how users will connect on the app. What started as a limited test just weeks ago has now become a platform-wide update, bringing a dedicated messaging tab to Threads for the very first time.
This new inbox feature allows users to send and receive direct messages, but with a few important limitations. For now, only users over the age of 18 can access messaging, and you’ll only be able to message people who follow you back. Group chats aren’t supported yet, though Meta confirms they’re on the roadmap. It’s a more restricted setup compared to Instagram DMs, but still a big step forward from Threads’ earlier dependence on Instagram’s messaging system.
Meta’s reluctance to add DMs on Threads initially came from concerns about redundancy. Instagram head Adam Mosseri famously resisted the idea, saying in 2023 that managing two separate inboxes with the same connections would be confusing. But that logic has become harder to defend as Threads matured — and now boasts over 350 million users.
Interestingly, more than a third of Threads’ daily users are now engaging with entirely different communities than they do on Instagram. That shift has pushed Meta to rethink its original vision. What was once pitched as a chill Instagram side-project is now shaping up to be a full-fledged alternative to X (formerly Twitter). With trending topics, link-heavy feeds, and now private conversations, Threads is doubling down on real-time discussions and news-based content.
Today’s update also introduces a new “highlighter” feature, making trending topics even more visible in user feeds. All signs point to Threads carving out its own identity — not as a clone of Twitter or a shadow of Instagram, but as a hybrid space for meaningful conversation and connection.
So while DMs might still feel a little limited at launch, they represent a broader evolution of Threads — and a not-so-subtle signal that Meta is ready to compete head-to-head with X.
Read more: Meta Rolls Out Threads Web Version
