Despite initially resisting calls to add DMs to Threads, Meta recently conceded to user pressure on this front, and it’s now looking to quickly build out its messaging functionality within its Twitter clone app, by adding a range of new DM options that’ll bring Threads messaging more into line with other DM offerings.
First off, Threads DMs are soon set to get the option to add stickers and GIFs, in addition to images (which Threads added last week).
As you can see in this example, posted by app research Alessandro Paluzzi (who uncovered all of these new DM additions), Threads users will soon get access to more DM attachment options, providing more ways to interact within your Threads messages.
Threads is also looking to add DM editing, “Unsend” and deletion:
While it’s also building group chat functionality as well:
As noted, these updates will bring Threads DMs more into line with other DM options, which will then encourage more engagement via DMs in Meta’s apps.
Though the very addition of DMs on Threads is interesting in broader context, because again, for long time, it seemed like Meta really didn’t want to build yet another messaging option, and add to its existing DM tools, in Messenger, WhatsApp and IG Direct.
That could be because of the ongoing FTC case against Meta, in which the FTC is seeking to force Meta to divest both Instagram and WhatsApp due to monopolistic behaviors.
The FTC has been pursuing Meta on this for years, and if it does indeed win its case, it could force a massive change in Meta’s functional operations.
Which is part of the reason why Meta has been working to integrate its DM functions, in order, ostensibly, to facilitate interoperability between its three messaging apps.
The idea here is that, eventually, you’ll have one single DM inbox that’s accessible across all three platforms, which, in effect, welds the three platforms together in a way that Meta could argue cannot be undone, if the FTC verdict doesn’t go it’s way. That would also counter concerns in the U.K. around DM encryption, with all three platforms moving to full encryption by default, and amid all of these varied issues, it did seem that Meta didn’t want to further complicate the process by launching Threads DMs.
But with the FTC case increasingly looking like it’ll go in Meta’s favor, it seems that Zuck and Co. are now confident enough to add another messaging tool into the mix, even without that back-end integration.
Thus, we now have Threads DMs, which makes the platform even more Twitter-like, and provides more vectors for connection, helping to improve Threads’ social graph insight.
Which is also why Threads is now looking to build Threads DMs out quickly, in order to make it a more viable, functional option.
There’s no official word on the release date for any of these new Threads DM features, but I suspect you’ll see them sooner, rather than later.
