Threads ultimately bring messages to the Internet

Whistles is spreading messages online, bringing one-on-one and group chats to the computer, social network owner Meta announced Tuesday. By bringing messaging to the Internet, Threads is aligning its digital experience more closely with competitors such as X and Bluesky.

Connor Hayes, head of Meta for Threads, said in the post that online messaging was the most requested feature from users after the company closed started the DMs in July 2025.

“Our people who are dating spend time online because they’re at their desks, they’re logged in, they’re using Threads a lot,” Hayes wrote in his Threads post. “A conversational program should work wherever you are, and now it does.”

The online version of Threads now has a “Messages” tab that opens your DM inbox, along with a “Requests” section where you can view all incoming requests. You can also check your messages and start new chats.

The establishment is not surprising, as Hayes did was teased in April the message will appear on the Threads web page.

For a platform that lacked rural DMs at launch, messaging has become a big part of Threads. The company told TechCrunch in an email that users have been sending 30% more messages per week since the beginning of the year, and users are now averaging 350 million DMs each week.

Since its inception in 2023, Threads has been adding new features to expand its platform and stay competitive with its competitors. It is worth noting that the social network recently added something that even its competitors do not have: Live Chat.

Threads’ Live Chats allow for real-time conversations during traditional events, and are launching for the first time among the NBA Threads community during the Playoffs. Users can send messages, photos, videos, links, and emojis. Up to 150 people can send instant messages on chat. When this limit is reached, other users can still view conversations, reply to messages, and participate in decisions in “viewer” mode.

The rollout of online messaging and Live Chats shows that Threads is focused on making conversation a central part of its platform, beyond posts and answers.