Threads is finally getting DMs

Threads users will soon be able to send direct messages to each other without having to leave the platform. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on June 10th that Threads will start testing its own DM system this week, starting in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Argentina, with plans to expand to more locations “soon.”

The experiment will introduce a separate inbox for Threads DMs instead of connecting users to the inbox of their linked Instagram account. This was a possibility given that the two Meta platforms are closely integrated, requiring users to login with their Instagram credentials to create a Threads account and automatically following the same users if they’re on Threads, too.

The Threads inbox can be accessed by clicking the new envelope symbol on the taskbar, located at the bottom of the display on iPhone and Android mobile apps, or on the left on desktop. Meta has not mentioned when the feature will become widely available.

Direct messaging was one of the most requested features from Threads users, who currently have no means to directly send private messages to other users. The closest solution was to jump over to Instagram. Having distinct inboxes for each platform will make it easier to manage messages — especially for business pages and content creators — and bring Threads closer to the X experience.