Instagram Threads Expands Messaging Beyond Close Friends
Instagram has significantly updated its Threads messaging app, reintroducing functionality reminiscent of its discontinued Direct app. The latest version now allows users to message anyone on Instagram—not just their Close Friends list. Here’s a breakdown of the key changes and what they mean for users.
Key Updates to Instagram Threads
1. Dual Inbox System
- Close Friends Tab: Maintains the original Threads functionality for messaging your inner circle.
- Everyone Else Tab: New section providing access to your full Instagram inbox.
2. Notification Preferences
- Default settings prioritize Close Friends notifications.
- Users can adjust settings to receive alerts for all messages.
3. Status Visibility
- Status updates remain exclusive to Close Friends.
Why This Matters
This update follows closely behind Instagram’s recent integration with Facebook Messenger, which introduced features like:
- Custom chat colors
- Expanded emoji reactions
- Disappearing messages
- Cross-platform messaging between Instagram and Facebook
While Threads currently doesn’t support cross-app communication with Messenger, Instagram confirms they’re considering bringing some of these new features to Threads in the future.
The Bigger Picture
This evolution of Threads raises interesting questions about Facebook’s long-term messaging strategy:
- Could Threads become another gateway into Facebook’s unified messaging platform?
- How might this affect potential regulatory actions regarding Facebook’s ecosystem?
Instagram maintains that cross-app communication remains opt-in for now, with no current plans to extend it to Threads.
Availability
The updated Threads app is now live for all users. As Instagram continues to refine its messaging approach, these changes suggest a potential convergence of its standalone apps into a more unified communication system.
Stay tuned for further developments as Instagram potentially brings more Messenger-like features to Threads in future updates.
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