Threads is Testing Redesigned Web App With DMs Support

Meta has started testing a redesigned web experience for Threads that brings the platform’s direct messages feature to the desktop. Threads added support for direct messages on mobile last year, and the team now intends to bridge the gap between its desktop and mobile experience.

« We’ve started testing an update to the experience on threads dot com. Web is an important part of how our most engaged users interact with Threads, and we’ll be investing more here going forward, » posted head of Threads Connor Hayes earlier this week.

The Threads web app currently uses a tabbed interface that’s quite reminiscent of the paid X Pro feature (previously TweetDeck) on X/Twitter. It lets users track multiple feeds in real time, and it looks like this core part of the web experience isn’t going away. The redesigned web app, however, offers a more complete left navigation menu with quick access to DMs, analytics, saved messages, and followed feeds.

Threads probably isn’t as good as X to follow real-time news, but it’s still the platform’s most credible competitor as of today. There’s a seamless onboarding process thanks to the integration with Instagram, and the latter also promotes Threads posts.

In addition to this redesigned web app, the Threads team has also started rolling out a new Intended Replies system on iOS, which makes discussions easier to follow by stacking replies logically. This is also being tested on Android, with a full launch coming soon, Hayes said.