Threads Launches Group Chats as Messaging Expands to the EU

Instagram Threads is extending its group messaging features to include up to 50 users, just after introducing direct conversations last summer. Group conversations are now open to users worldwide on the Meta-owned rival of X, which currently boasts over 400 million monthly active users. In the EU, where it was first delayed, it will also make its messaging experience available to consumers there.

By integrating group chats into Threads, Meta will enable users to message several friends in a shared conversation rather than sending individual direct messages. By creating a new message and inviting up to 50 followers, Threads users can also establish a group conversation. Like group messages on Facebook Messenger, the group chat name can be changed to make it easier to recognise by topic or participants.

Threads users who are at least 18 years old will be able to share text messages, videos, GIFs, and emoticons in group discussions, just like they can on the public timeline.

Emily Dalton Smith, Vice President of Product Management at Threads, told reporters earlier this week that group chats will not be encrypted, just like individual direct messages (DMs). The firm does not see Threads DMs as a secure messaging service, but rather as a means for users to communicate over current topics, such as a football game or TV show they are watching.

Smith showed off the new feature and answered questions about its purpose and functionality. “We see messaging as a way for people to connect more deeply with the people they’re already having conversations with — it’s really about going deep with people who share your interests,” she said.

Global group chat feature is now being rolled out, with the exception of the UK and Australia. Alec Booker, a representative for Meta, told The Verge that the firm is striving to provide messaging to these areas “as quickly as possible.” Future improvements will allow Threads users to invite others to group conversations by posting a link rather than adding each person to the conversation manually, as well as better inbox management options.

Some changes are also occurring as Instagram, the parent company of Threads, is focussing its app on DMs and reels after discovering that these were the elements that users interacted with the most. As expected, it is now integrating messaging into the basic functionality of the Threads app.

The company’s main rival, X, has followed suit, but its main goal has been to move customers to XChat, an end-to-end encrypted chat service that security experts claim is less reliable than Signal.

Users of Threads will be able to control who can initiate group chats with them, just as they can with direct messages. Smith stated that in order for users to add you to the group chat, you must be following them. Individual messages from users you don’t follow are simply routed to your Message Requests folder rather than your primary inbox, making this more limited than how Threads DMs operate.

However, individual DMs are subject to further limitations. Users are also restricted in the number of message requests they can send, and links and media are disabled. Users also have the option to disable message requests from users they do not follow, and possible spam is further filtered to a secret folder.

Additionally, users will get the option to name their group conversations and invite others simply posting a link to the chat rather than adding each person individually. Members may find it simpler to connect with people in a specific community using this tool, which is a more recent addition to the app’s interest group search functionality.

Smith also noted that Thread users connect with a different group of people on Threads than they do on Instagram or Instagram. According to her, over one-third of daily Threads users follow fewer than half as many people as they do on Instagram. This also indicates that users are connecting with the app more “Threads-first,” according to the business.

The launch of group messaging comes as Threads plans to bring messaging capabilities to the EU “over the next few days,” enabling group conversations and individual direct messages.