Meta’s Threads platform is rolling out a new Live Chats feature that allows users to exchange messages in real time. The update enables sending text, photos, videos, links, and emoji reactions within dedicated chat windows. Unlike standard direct messages, Live Chats appear in a separate tab and support group conversations up to 50 participants.
The feature was first spotted in testing last month and is now available to all users globally. Threads head of product Adam Mosseri confirmed the rollout in a post on the platform, stating that the goal is to improve engagement by making interactions more immediate. The company has not yet announced plans to integrate Live Chats with Instagram Direct, where Threads users already share content.
Initial user feedback indicates the feature is being used for both casual chats and professional discussions. One early adopter, a small business owner in Berlin, told TechCrunch she now hosts weekly Q&A sessions with customers through Live Chats. The company has not released usage statistics or retention metrics tied to the new tool.
Threads launched in July 2023 as a direct competitor to X, formerly Twitter. It reached 150 million monthly active users within five months, according to internal figures provided by Meta. The platform’s rapid growth has been driven by its integration with Instagram, which shares the same underlying user base.
The addition of Live Chats follows Meta’s broader push to make Threads a standalone messaging hub. Earlier this year, the company introduced customizable profiles and longer video uploads, further differentiating the service from its rivals.
Source: techcrunch.com