Threads officially rolls out standalone DMs and debuts visual highlights

5 days ago 2

Meta just took another step in its belated but very welcome push to detach Threads from its Instagram roots. Starting today, the app is officially rolling out its own direct messaging system and a new visual highlights feature. Here’s how they work.

Both updates mark the second anniversary of the app, which was officially launched on July 5th, 2024. And alongside the announcement, Threads also shared an interesting, but completely unsurprising fact, pointing to its increasingly independent future from Instagram:

“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.”

DMs, at last

Anyone who uses Threads knows that direct messaging has been one of the most requested features since launch. Now it’s thankfully rolling out, with a few ground rules: DMs are not encrupted. Also, for the time being, you’ll only be able to DM people who follow you back on Threads, or are mutual followers on Instagram. Also, both parties must be over 18.

That said, the company says that future updates to DMs will include:

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: A new way to surface “perspectives”

Alongside DMs, the app is also introducing a new visual element: the Threads highlighter.

Intended to “elevate and emphasize unique perspectives that lead to thoughtful conversations”, the Threads highlighter will mark trending topics and other subjects of interest.

They will appear at first “in important parts of the app where you discover content,” and like the dedicated DMs tab, will be made available worldwide today.