Update on September 12, 2025 at 2:15PM PT:
Starting soon, you’ll be able to send direct messages to people you don’t follow.
For creators, this can unlock collaborations with other creators and potential monetization opportunities, but we know that not everyone wants an open inbox. To help you choose who can message you, we’ve developed controls that protect you from potentially unwanted interactions:
- Message requests: Messages from people you don’t follow are sent to a Message Requests folder, reducing unwanted messages in your main inbox. Links and media are disabled in message requests, and there are limits to how many requests someone can send.
- Privacy settings: You can turn off message requests from people you don’t follow at any time by visiting your Messages settings and choosing Only People You Follow.
- Hidden folder: We’ll do our best to detect harmful messages and spam and automatically filter them into a hidden folder so you don’t have to see these messages at all.
As the app grows, many people are connecting with communities they only follow on Threads. Messaging helps make this even easier, and we’re committed to improving the experience, with group chats and inbox management tools coming soon too.
Originally published on July 1, 2025 at 9:00AM PT:
It’s been two years since Threads launched, and we’re excited to see vibrant communities emerging and thriving as the app matures, continuing on the path to becoming Meta’s next major social app.
More than a third of daily Threads users with connections follow mostly different accounts on Threads than on Instagram, showing that Threads is establishing its own unique user base.
We want to do more to make Threads the best place for sharing fresh perspectives and open conversations. So today we’re announcing two important updates – the ability to send DMs directly in the app and the introduction of the Threads highlighter, a new visual element that emphasizes interesting perspectives and conversations.
Introducing Messaging on Threads
Threads was created for sharing perspectives that generate vibrant, public conversations, but sometimes you want to take a conversation further, one-on-one. Messaging has been one of the top requested features, and now, you can easily continue conversations in the app and deepen relationships with others.
We know it’s important for people to feel safe using messaging. To start, we’re only allowing DMs between your Threads followers or mutual followers from Instagram who are ages 18 and older. Messaging is also protected by our robust privacy standards, account protections and safety infrastructure. As we expand messaging, we’re prioritizing safety to help make it another place for positive interactions on Threads.
Exciting improvements are coming to messaging soon, making it even easier to strengthen existing connections and build new ones on Threads, including:
- Message controls: Decide who can send you messages, including people who don’t follow you on Threads or Instagram, and use a dedicated message requests folder.
- Group messaging: Connect with multiple people around a conversation.
- Inbox filters: Quickly find and respond to the messages that matter to you.
The Threads Highlighter: Emphasizing Perspectives
The Threads highlighter elevates and emphasizes unique perspectives that lead to thoughtful conversations. To start, you’ll see the highlighter in important parts of the app where you discover content, and to mark Trending topics – with more placements coming soon.
As Threads enters year three, we’re focused on supporting communities and creators, highlighting fresh perspectives and maintaining a space where conversations and communities thrive.
