Threads Introduces Disappearing Posts Feature
Meta’s Threads has launched a new feature aimed at boosting user engagement by offering disappearing posts. Currently in a limited test phase, this option allows users to set their updates to automatically delete after 24 hours, providing an experience similar to that of Snapchat or Instagram Stories.
The move is part of Threads’ broader strategy to reduce the anxiety associated with permanent posts that can be linked back to users indefinitely. With public figures often facing backlash for past social media posts, the ability to share content that doesn’t linger online could encourage more spontaneous and authentic interactions.
Alongside this, posts can also be used for one-time events, giveaways, or other situations where the information would be irrelevant within a day. This helps both major creators and regular users by giving them more control over the digital legacy they’re leaving behind, and lets them use Threads like a short-term update platform.
Adam Mosseri, head of Threads, has previously explored options like auto-archiving or auto-deleting posts after 30 or 90 days. Feedback was mixed, and the new disappearing posts feature is seen as a compromise.
The introduction of disappearing posts aligns with a growing trend in social media toward less permanent engagement, as platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have also begun to experiment with reducing visibility of certain user interactions. While it’s still early to determine how widely adopted this feature will be, it opens up a new way of using the platform – both for individual users and business accounts.