Threads is reportedly testing a new feature on the platform that will allow users to post messages that disappear after a certain amount of time. These temporary posts can be visible for up to 24 hours, according to the report. Replies to posts will also reportedly be automatically deleted once the parent post disappears. The Meta-owned social media platform is currently reportedly testing the feature with a small group of users, and there’s no word on when it will roll out to a wider user base.
Threads Allegedly Testing Temporary Posts
Meta is testing a temporary posts feature with a limited number of users, the company confirmed to TechCruch. The development comes after Threads told the publication in June that temporary posts were being built as an internal prototype.
Creator and advisor Alessandro Paluzzi reportedly made a temporary post on Friday to showcase the feature. A screenshot included in the report shows a timer counting down to zero. The post reportedly disappears, along with any replies that were posted under it, once the timer runs out.
While the feature banner didn’t emphasize it, the publication claims that any quote posts that are reposts with a quote added will also disappear once the original post times out. Interestingly, the company has been testing the temporary post feature for several months.
It is said that temporary posts will not be visible on Thread’s fediverse network. This means that if a user moves to Mastodon with their account, temporary posts will not be added. This is likely because Threads cannot delete a post on another platform.
While the use case for such a feature may be limited, it is said that such a feature could help users create off-topic posts or posts that have a limited shelf life and cannot be understood without some context. For example, someone commenting live during an Apple or Samsung event could benefit from this feature.
It’s currently unclear when the feature might be rolled out to a wider audience. It’s also unknown if users can add a specific time period below 24 hours to automatically delete a post. Those details may not be revealed until the feature is publicly available.
