Threads is getting group chats as messaging rolls out to the EU

Instagram's Threads is enhancing its messaging features by introducing group chats that can accommodate up to 50 participants. This update comes shortly after the platform rolled out direct messaging capabilities earlier this summer. With over 400 million monthly active users, Threads is now making group chats available worldwide, including in the EU, where the feature had previously faced delays. Users aged 18 and older can now share text posts, videos, GIFs, and emojis within group chats, mirroring the functionality available on the public timeline. Emily Dalton Smith, VP of Product Management for Threads, clarified that, similar to direct messages, group chats will not be end-to-end encrypted. The platform aims to facilitate conversations around shared interests, such as sports events or TV shows, rather than providing a secure messaging service. The introduction of group chats is part of a broader strategy by Threads’ parent company, Meta, to prioritize messaging features in its applications. Instagram has recently shifted its focus to Reels and DMs, responding to user engagement patterns. Threads is now embedding messaging as a central element of its user experience, paralleling competitors like X, which has introduced its own encrypted messaging service, XChat, although concerns about its trustworthiness have been raised. To enhance user control, Threads will allow users to dictate who can initiate group chats. A user must be following another in order to be added to a group chat, providing a more controlled environment compared to individual direct messages, which can be received from non-followers but are filtered into a separate Message Requests folder. Additionally, users can name their group chats and will soon have the option to invite others via a shared link, simplifying the process of connecting with like-minded individuals within the app’s Community feature. Smith noted that Threads is cultivating a unique user base, as over a third of daily users follow fewer than half the same accounts they do on Instagram, suggesting a trend toward building specific connections on Threads. The rollout of messaging features in the EU is expected to be completed in the coming days, giving users access to both individual and group chat functionalities from the start.