Threads, Meta’s rival to Elon Musk’s X, is experimenting with disappearing posts, allowing users to share content that vanishes after 24 hours. This feature is currently being tested with a limited user group, and aims to provide a more casual and ephemeral sharing experience.
While details remain scarce, a Threads spokesperson confirmed the test to TechCrunch, describing it as a new way to engage on the platform. The company has not disclosed the specific regions or user criteria for accessing this feature.
As tested by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, these posts, visible for 24 hours, display a countdown timer indicating their remaining lifespan. A banner atop each post further clarifies that the original thread and its replies will vanish once the timer expires. Interestingly, quoted replies also seem to inherit the same 24-hour lifespan as the original post.
Rumors of this feature have been circulating since June when Paluzzi shared a screenshot hinting at a dedicated button for creating 24-hour posts. Technologist Christ Messina further corroborated these rumors, discovering code related to disappearing posts within the iOS app.
Notably, Messina highlighted that these ephemeral posts won’t be shareable on the fediverse, as Threads lacks the functionality to delete content from external ActivityPub servers. This limitation is significant given Threads’ recent integration with the fediverse, allowing users to share posts across platforms.
24-hour disappearing posts on Threads could help creators looking to share occasional off-brand or time-sensitive content. This feature could also enhance engagement during live events, allowing users to participate in real-time discussions that naturally fade away once the event concludes.
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