Threads is experimenting with a feature that enables certain users to create posts that automatically vanish after 24 hours. The trial aims to provide a more casual, transient avenue for content sharing on the platform.
Mechanics of Ephemeral Posts
Threads' spokesperson has confirmed the feature trial to TechCrunch, without detailing the criteria for user selection or geographical limits. Chosen users will see a countdown timer indicating the remaining time before their posts disappear. After 24 hours, the posts and their comments will be permanently removed. App reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi shared insights into this feature, including a banner notifying users about the temporary nature of their posts.
Post by @alex193aView on Threads
He noted that these transient posts won't be visible on the fediverse, as Threads cannot remove content from other ActivityPub-based servers. This feature is tailored for creators wanting to share content that may lose relevance quickly or doesn't align with their usual brand.
Historical Context and Comparisons
Twitter introduced a similar feature, Fleets, in 2020, where posts would disappear after a day. The feature was retired in 2021 due to low usage. Should Threads decide to proceed with this feature, it will join other social platforms like X, Bluesky, and Mastodon, which offer ephemeral posts.
This new test follows Instagram head Adam Mosseri's mention of auto-archiving experiments on Threads, an optional feature to hide posts from the feed after a set date. However, this functionality hasn't seen significant user interest and remains largely unimplemented.
In early August, Threads surpassed 200 million users. Recently, the platform unveiled an analytics tool named Insights, aimed at helping users, particularly those with significant followings, track post performance. Meta also announced that post scheduling is on the horizon.
