Meta is currently testing messaging capabilities that leverage Instagram’s inbox but allow for initiating new messages directly from the Threads app.
Some Threads users have already spotted this feature, noticing a “message” button on other users’ profiles where the “mention” feature used to reside. A spokesperson from Meta confirmed the testing phase, stating that the company is exploring the ability to send messages from Threads to Instagram.
It’s worth noting that Threads still lacks its own dedicated inbox, and it’s uncertain whether it will ever have one.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, has expressed reluctance to create a separate inbox for Threads, preferring to integrate the Instagram inbox into the Threads app. Additionally, a Meta spokesperson clarified that the current testing phase does not involve implementing DMs on Threads.
Although not a full-fledged DM feature, the option to send messages from the Threads app without switching to Instagram could streamline the messaging experience to some extent. However, accessing or responding to these messages will still necessitate using the Instagram app.
While this additional step may appear unnecessary, Mosseri has highlighted the complexities of developing two separate inboxes for the same platform. He outlined the challenges in a post from November, explaining the dilemma between mirroring the Instagram inbox in Threads, with potential notification routing issues, or creating a completely separate Threads inbox, resulting in redundant message threads across two apps.
