BREAKING: Threads Launches DMs & New Highlighter Feature

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threads, Meta’s rapidly growing social platform, is taking significant strides forward as it enters its third year. In a major announcement aimed at enhancing user connection and content discovery, the app is rolling out two highly anticipated features: direct messaging (DMs) within the app and a novel visual tool called the Threads highlighter. These updates underscore Meta’s ambition for Threads to evolve into its next major social force, building on its emerging unique identity.

The platform, which launched in July 2023, has already cultivated a distinct user base separate from its parent app, Instagram. Intriguingly, data reveals that over one-third of daily Threads users with connections follow accounts on Threads that are mostly different from those they follow on Instagram. This statistic strongly indicates that Threads is fostering unique interest graphs and communities rather than simply replicating Instagram’s social graph. With these new features, the focus sharpens on supporting creators and enabling both public conversation and private connection.

Unlocking Private Conversations: Threads Direct Messaging Arrives

The ability to send direct messages has consistently ranked as one of the most requested features since Threads’ inception. While the platform was designed primarily for vibrant, public discourse and sharing perspectives, users clearly desired a way to take conversations deeper or move discussions private, one-on-one. The introduction of native DMs directly addresses this need, allowing users to seamlessly transition from a public thread to a private chat without leaving the app.

However, Meta is prioritizing a cautious and safety-first approach to this rollout, leveraging lessons learned from its extensive experience with other platforms. To start, direct messaging is only available between users who are already connected: either existing Threads followers or mutual followers on Instagram. Crucially, both participants in the conversation must also be aged 18 or older. This initial restriction aims to build the messaging functionality on a foundation of existing trust and connection, providing a layer of safety from the outset.

The messaging system is built upon Meta’s established and robust privacy standards, account protections, and comprehensive safety infrastructure already in place across its family of apps. Content within Threads messages will adhere to Meta’s standard Community Standards and Monetization Policies, supported by existing AI-powered filtering systems. While the initial rollout offers basic one-on-one chats with standard features like preset emoji reactions and the ability to report spam or mute conversations, this is just the beginning.

Future Enhancements for Threads Messaging

Exciting improvements are already planned for the messaging feature to make private interactions even more flexible and powerful. Users can look forward to expanded message controls in the future, allowing them to decide who can send them messages, potentially including those who don’t currently follow them through a dedicated message requests folder.

Additionally, group messaging functionality is on the roadmap, enabling multiple people to connect and discuss topics privately. Inbox filters are also planned to help users efficiently manage and respond to the messages that matter most to them. These forthcoming updates signal a clear intent to evolve the messaging feature into a comprehensive communication tool within the Threads ecosystem.

Elevating Insights: Introducing the Threads Highlighter

Beyond private messaging, Threads is also launching a new visual element designed to enhance content discovery and highlight valuable contributions: the Threads highlighter. This feature serves as a visual marker, drawing attention to unique perspectives and insightful contributions that spark thoughtful conversations across the platform.

The highlighter’s purpose is to make it easier for users to find engaging content and identify key discussions. Initially, you will see the highlighter in important content discovery areas within the app. A prominent early application is marking Trending topics, helping users quickly identify the subjects driving significant conversation. Meta has indicated that more placements for the highlighter are planned for the future, suggesting it will become an increasingly integral part of the content consumption experience.

Threads’ Maturation: Building a Distinct Platform Identity

These dual feature rollouts arrive as Threads continues its journey to become a standalone social powerhouse, differentiating itself further from Instagram. As Meta VP of Product, Emily Dalton Smith, has noted, while Instagram often serves as a space for “creativity,” Threads is increasingly becoming a hub for “perspectives.” The growing body of data showing distinct user graphs on Threads supports this view.

The addition of DMs helps close a feature gap with competitors like X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky, though Threads is pursuing a different philosophy by not prioritizing message encryption at this stage, focusing instead on community-building through direct conversation. The highlighter, meanwhile, is a unique tool aimed at organizing and promoting the very “perspectives” Threads seeks to cultivate, building upon previous features like ‘tags’ and ‘topic feeds’.

Meta is actively exploring ways to make Threads more accessible and independent, testing features like allowing users to log in via Facebook (in Europe) and creating Threads-only accounts that don’t require an Instagram presence. Web access without a login is also being tested. Monetization through advertising has begun, with ads rolling out globally, leveraging Meta’s existing infrastructure. The platform has also been enhancing its technical capabilities, opening its API to developers and adding features throughout late 2024 and early 2025, including expanded media sharing and public feed sharing.

As Threads moves into its third year, the focus remains squarely on supporting communities, uplifting creators, highlighting fresh perspectives, and nurturing a space where diverse conversations can thrive. The introduction of native messaging and the visual highlighter are critical steps in this evolution, aiming to increase the app’s utility for both public engagement and private connection, ultimately solidifying its unique place in the social media landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the new features Threads just launched?

Threads has introduced two major updates as it enters its third year: direct messaging (DMs) allowing private one-on-one conversations within the app, and the Threads highlighter, a new visual element used to emphasize unique perspectives and trending topics in content discovery areas.

How do the new Threads DMs work, and who can I message?

Initially, Threads direct messaging is restricted for safety. You can only message people who already follow you on Threads or who are mutual followers with you on Instagram. Additionally, both you and the recipient must be at least 18 years old to use the feature. Meta plans to add more controls, group messaging, and filters in the future.

Why is Threads adding these features, and what does it mean for its future?

Meta is adding DMs and the highlighter to make Threads a more comprehensive and engaging social platform. DMs fulfill a top user request for private conversation, while the highlighter helps users discover key discussions and perspectives. These features are part of Meta’s strategy to grow Threads into its next major app, separate from Instagram, by supporting its increasingly distinct user base and fostering unique communities focused on open conversations and perspectives.

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