Threads Adds Group Chats and EU Messaging Access

Meta's Threads is expanding its messaging capabilities with group chats that support up to 50 participants, announced in its official update. The platform, which now boasts over 400 million monthly active users, is rolling out the feature globally while simultaneously bringing messaging to EU users for the first time.

What the new group feature includes

Threads users aged 18 and older can now create group conversations and share text posts, videos, GIFs, and emojis—the same content formats available on the public timeline. The groups won't use end-to-end encryption, positioning them as casual spaces for discussing real-time topics like live events rather than secure communication channels.

Participants can name their group chats, and an upcoming update will allow members to invite others through shareable links instead of manual additions. This link-sharing capability could simplify gathering people around specific Communities, the platform's newer interest-group feature.

Privacy controls limit who can add you

The service includes stricter access rules than individual direct messages. Someone must follow you before they can add you to a group chat, preventing unwanted invitations from strangers. This differs from standard DMs, where messages from non-followers simply land in a separate Message Requests folder.

Individual message requests already have additional safeguards: links and media are disabled, senders face limits on how many requests they can dispatch, and potential spam gets filtered into a hidden folder. Users can also block message requests entirely from accounts they don't follow.

Meta doubles down on messaging across apps

The expansion mirrors a broader strategy at Instagram, Threads' parent platform, which recently identified Reels and direct messages as its most engaging features. By prioritizing messaging on Threads, Meta is replicating a playbook that's already working on its flagship photo app.

Competitor X has also emphasized messaging but chose a different path with XChat, an end-to-end encrypted service that security researchers have questioned. Threads VP of Product Management Emily Dalton Smith emphasized the platform sees messaging as a tool for connecting over shared interests in the moment, not as a secure communication service.

EU access arrives after initial delay

European users will gain access to both individual and group messaging within the next few days. The delayed rollout in the EU market means these users are receiving both features simultaneously, rather than the staggered launch global users experienced.

Why creators should pay attention

Group chats open new avenues for audience engagement without broadcasting publicly. Creators can host conversations with superfans, coordinate with collaborators, or run small community discussions around niche topics. The 50-person limit keeps groups manageable while allowing meaningful interaction.

The link-invitation feature arriving soon will make it easier to gather community members quickly. Creators who use Threads Communities to build interest-based audiences will be able to facilitate deeper connections through private group conversations tied to those public spaces.

The lack of encryption matters less for casual creator-audience interactions but signals Threads isn't positioning itself as a platform for sensitive business communications. Brands and creators should continue using secure channels for confidential discussions while leveraging Threads groups for community-building and real-time engagement around content and events.