Threads is finally adding DMs, but not everyone is happy about it
Until now, Threads users had no way to send private messages directly in the app. Anyone who wanted to talk one-on-one had to switch to Instagram, since Threads accounts are linked to Instagram profiles. That's about to change. The new update introduces a separate inbox built directly into Threads. It can be accessed by tapping the envelope icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the mobile app, or from the left side on desktop.
Importantly, Threads DMs won't be connected to Instagram's inbox. That gives users a clean, separate space to send and receive messages inside Threads, without needing to hop between apps.
Mark Zuckerberg confirms that DMs are coming to Threads. | Image credit — Mark Zuckerberg on Threads This marks a big shift for the platform. Since launching in July 2023, Threads has added several key features, including a Following feed, trending topics, an edit button, and support for web access. Each update has brought it closer to the kind of full-featured social platform many users have come to expect. Adding DMs brings Threads a step closer to rivaling X (formerly Twitter), where private messaging has long been a core feature.
But not everyone is excited. While some users see this as a much-needed improvement — especially creators and business accounts looking to manage conversations more easily — others are concerned about what it means for the platform's future. Some worry that private messaging could open the door to the kind of harassment and toxic behavior seen on other apps.
In particular, many women have spoken out, saying the lack of DMs was one of the reasons Threads felt like a safer space. Without private messages, unwanted contact was more visible and easier to manage. Now, there's concern that bad actors will use DMs to send abuse in private, where it's harder to report or moderate.
Critics also argue that adding DMs risks changing the tone of Threads. What started as a public-focused platform may now feel more like other social apps — and not necessarily in a good way.
Still, this update brings Threads closer to meeting the expectations of modern users. Whether it helps Threads grow or creates new challenges, one thing is certain: Threads DMs are almost here, and it's going to change how people use the app.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GSM Arena
8 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Europeans to miss certain iOS 26 features due to strict EU regulations
Users in the EU are still waiting for their iPhone mirroring on Macs, and they won't be getting the Live Activities feature anytime soon either, due to strict EU regulations under the Digital Markets Act. In a recent statement, Kyle Andeer, the president of Apple Legal, said that some of the upcoming iOS 26 features may be delayed for European consumers or might not arrive at all. There are even talks about EU users losing the AirDrop function. According to Apple, Europe's DMA is hurting the company as it requires it to share its technology with other parties. Additionally, the privacy requirements under the Digital Markets Act are unrealistic and appear to favor certain companies, Cupertino claims. Apple has once again pointed out that Meta is exploiting the DMA's requirements and is asking for technology and user data that has nothing to do with Facebook or Instagram's core services. In the meantime, Apple is being forced to delay products and features because the EU is making it hard to comply with all the rules, which don't seem to apply to all companies equally. Apple's official stance is that the DMA isn't designed to protect customers, but to favor companies instead, sometimes European ones. It's interesting to see Apple fighting the EU's regulatory bodies while complying with everything that the Chinese government asks. In any case, we hope the EU and Apple sort these things out for the sake of regular consumers, who are forced to pay the same price, or even higher, as their US peers and do not receive all the functionalities. Source
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Threads gets private messaging and a fresh look to highlight top conversations
Threads is getting two notable updates: the ability to send direct messages and a new feature called the Threads highlighter. These additions come as the app enters its third year and continues to grow its community. Starting today, users can message each other directly in Threads. Until now, the platform was limited to public conversations, however, with this change, users can now take discussions private, making it easier to stay connected beyond public posts. To start, only mutual followers on Threads or Instagram who are at least 18 years old can use the messaging feature. Meta says this limit is in place to prioritize safety and user control. The company also says it plans to improve the feature with message controls, group chats, and inbox filters. These tools will help people decide who can message them and make it easier to manage conversations. Threads has now implemented DMs. | Image credit — Instagram Alongside messaging, Threads is introducing the Threads highlighter. This is a visual element that highlights posts tied to trending topics or thoughtful discussions. These highlighted posts will show up in places like the explore tab, where users discover new content. The goal is to bring more attention to unique perspectives and active conversations happening on the platform. Meta says that more than a third of daily Threads users follow different accounts than they do on Instagram. That points to Threads developing its own audience, rather than simply mirroring its parent app. These new features are meant to support that growth and help users connect in new ways. While messaging and highlighting may seem like small changes, they could play a key role in shaping how people use Threads moving forward. By adding private communication and emphasizing popular conversations, Meta is trying to make the app more useful for regular interaction. We'll have to wait and see how widely these features are adopted. Messaging is launching with restrictions, and the highlighter is only appearing in limited sections of the app for now. But both updates suggest Meta is still working to define what Threads is and how it fits into its larger social ecosystem. As the app matures, features like these may help Threads move beyond being an Instagram offshoot and become a platform where different types of conversations can take place. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Meta's next big wearable might make Apple very nervous
Screen in your specs While the leaked render doesn't clearly show the screen, multiple sources suggest it'll support limited AR-style functionality. Combined with a camera upgrade and enhanced AI features, this would push Meta's wearables beyond the passive capture use cases of current Ray-Ban models. Which feature of Meta's leaked Hypernova smart glasses sounds the most interesting to you? Built-in screen for apps and notifications Gesture controls via the wristband AI-powered interactions Camera upgrades for photo/video capture I'm not excited — still waiting for a killer feature Built-in screen for apps and notifications 0% Gesture controls via the wristband 0% AI-powered interactions 0% Camera upgrades for photo/video capture 0% I'm not excited — still waiting for a killer feature 0% Price, release window, and future plans Hypernova's defining feature could be its tiny, built-in display, reportedly located in the lower-right section of the right lens. It's said to display a home screen of circular app icons — like the camera, photo gallery, maps, and notifications from apps like WhatsApp and the leaked render doesn't clearly show the screen, multiple sources suggest it'll support limited AR-style functionality. Combined with a camera upgrade and enhanced AI features, this would push Meta's wearables beyond the passive capture use cases of current Ray-Ban models. Meta is already said to be working on a second-generation model, Hypernova 2, with dual displays, though that version likely won't arrive until at least 2027. An aggressive move from Meta that Apple should take seriously Meta's Hypernova is rumored to cost between $1,000 and $1,400, a clear jump from the Ray-Bans but still far below something like the Apple Vision Pro (although it might be close to the rumored Apple Vision Air). That price might reflect not just the added hardware, but also Meta's growing ambitions in the smart glasses market — where it's quickly becoming the brand to is already said to be working on a second-generation model, Hypernova 2, with dual displays, though that version likely won't arrive until at least 2027. This leak comes just days after This leak comes just days after Apple sent out a survey to Vision Pro users asking about their experiences with devices like the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and Amazon's Echo Frames — a clear sign that Apple is taking this category seriously. With its own smart glasses expected to debut in 2026 or 2027, it looks like Meta and Apple are headed for a showdown in the XR headset market. According to earlier reports , this band is codenamed Ceres and is designed to support intuitive gesture controls. Think scrolling by rotating your wrist or selecting items with a finger pinch — an idea originally developed for Meta's unreleased Orion AR headset The wristband would work in tandem with capacitive touch panels on the glasses' frames, possibly allowing users to ditch voice commands entirely in favor of subtle, touchless interactions.
