Threads Launches Group Messaging Globally
Meta’s social platform Threads has reportedly rolled out group messaging capabilities to users worldwide, according to recent reports from TechCrunch. The new feature allows up to 50 participants to communicate in group chats, enabling sharing of text posts, videos, GIFs, and emojis similar to the public timeline functionality. This expansion comes shortly after the platform introduced individual direct messages earlier this summer.
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EU Market Access and User Base Growth
The messaging experience will also become available to users in the European Union over the coming days, sources indicate, following initial delays in that market. This rollout gives EU users access to both individual and group messaging features simultaneously. The platform, owned by Instagram parent company Meta, now boasts more than 400 million monthly active users according to company reports, positioning it as a significant competitor to X.
Security Approach and User Controls
During a demonstration with reporters, Threads VP of Product Management Emily Dalton Smith explained that both individual and group messaging will not feature encryption, analysts suggest. The company reportedly views Threads messaging as a way for people to connect about shared interests rather than as a secure messaging service. “We see messaging as a way for people to connect more deeply with the people they’re already having conversations with,” Smith stated in the conversation.
Users will have controls over who can add them to group chats, the report states. Unlike individual private messages where messages from non-followers go to a requests folder, users must be following someone for that person to add them to a group chat. This represents a more restrictive approach compared to individual messaging functionality within the Threads platform.
Competitive Landscape and Platform Strategy
The messaging expansion comes as Threads’ parent company Instagram refocuses around Reels and direct messaging, features that reportedly see the highest user engagement. This strategic shift mirrors moves by competitor X, which has been transitioning users to its XChat encrypted service. However, security researchers have suggested XChat may not be as trustworthy as established secure messaging platforms.
According to the analysis, Meta’s approach to Threads messaging differs significantly from encrypted alternatives. The company’s official messaging announcement emphasizes connection around shared interests rather than security features, positioning the platform differently in the competitive social media landscape.
Enhanced Group Chat Features
Users will be able to name their group chats and will eventually gain the ability to invite others via shareable links rather than individual additions, according to reports. This functionality could facilitate easier connections within Threads Communities, the platform’s newer feature for finding interest-based groups. The development comes amid broader industry movements in communication technology, including advancements in quantum verification protocols and hybrid quantum-classical computing that could influence future messaging security.
Distinct User Behavior Patterns
Company data suggests Threads users connect with different audiences than on Instagram, sources indicate. More than a third of daily Threads users reportedly follow less than half the number of people they follow on Instagram, suggesting the emergence of “Threads-first” connections. This differentiation comes as the platform continues developing its identity separate from its Instagram roots while other tech sectors experience shifts, including electric vehicle subsidy changes, financial service consolidations, and labor policy challenges.
Message Request Limitations
Individual direct messages include additional restrictions beyond group chat controls, the report states. Links and media remain disabled in message requests from non-followers, and users face limitations on how many requests they can send. Users can reportedly disable message requests entirely from people they don’t follow, while potential spam gets filtered to a hidden folder, providing multiple layers of control over incoming communications.
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