Threads Introduces Direct Messaging as It Moves Further from Instagram Roots

Meta’s Threads app has begun rolling out its own direct messaging (DM) system, marking a significant shift in its evolution away from Instagram. The new feature, launching globally starting July 1, allows users to message each other directly within Threads for the first time—something previously only possible by redirecting users to Instagram.

At launch, the DMs support one-on-one conversations with core functionality including emoji reactions, spam reporting, and mute options. More advanced features, like group chats and inbox filters, are expected in future updates. Currently, users can only restrict DMs by controlling who they follow, and anyone blocked on Threads will also be blocked on Instagram.

Direct messaging is initially limited to users over 18 and won’t be available yet in regions such as Japan, Australia, the U.K., or the EU.

This update places Threads in closer competition with text-centric platforms like X and Bluesky. However, Threads’ VP of Product, Emily Dalton Smith, clarified that “we’re not encrypting our DMs,” adding that the focus is on casual conversation rather than private or secure messaging.

Alongside DMs, Threads also launched a new discovery tool called “highlighter,” which will surface trending discussions and potentially spotlight user perspectives over time.

Meta is also experimenting with letting users access Threads without needing an Instagram account, including options to log in with Facebook or even browse without logging in at all. These efforts reflect the app’s growing divergence from Instagram, with Meta noting that many users maintain different social graphs across the two platforms.

Threads has reached 350 million monthly active users but continues to position itself as a smaller, fast-growing platform within Meta’s broader ecosystem. Future plans include better community discovery tools and expanded use of AI for content surfacing—not user-facing features.