Meta is working on a new feature for its Threads platform that could introduce disappearing posts, offering users a way to make their posts, along with all replies, vanish after 24 hours.
This development could address concerns related to the permanence of social media content, particularly for those who might worry about old posts resurfacing to cause reputational damage, a problem commonly associated with public figures on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Currently, X users have to rely on third-party services to delete their history, but Threads’ potential new feature would provide an integrated solution within the platform itself. This could encourage users who are concerned about the long-term visibility of their posts to engage more actively on Threads, rather than just scrolling through content passively. Additionally, it could serve those who wish to share content that doesn’t align with their usual brand or is off-topic for their account.
Threads Introduce 24-Hour Disappearing Posts
This feature was discovered by technologist and reverse engineer Chris Messina. He noted that the disappearing posts would be exclusive to Threads and would not be shared to the fediverse, the decentralized social network powered by the ActivityPub protocol, which includes platforms like Mastodon.
In June, Threads integrated with the fediverse, allowing posts to be distributed across a wider network. However, since Threads currently cannot delete posts once they’ve been shared to the fediverse, the ephemeral posts would remain confined to Threads.
Meta Confirms Internal Prototype
Meta has confirmed that the disappearing posts feature is only an internal prototype at this stage and is not being tested externally. It remains unclear whether this feature will be made available for broader testing in the future.
If widely adopted, this feature could make Threads more attractive to users, particularly since it would offer exclusive, limited-time-only content. Threads, which already has over 200 million monthly active users, vastly outnumbers the user base of open social platforms like Mastodon, which has less than a million users. This exclusivity could further increase Threads’ appeal.
The potential for this feature to draw users from X is also significant. Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, the platform has discontinued its Fleets feature, which provided a similar disappearing content option. As a result, X users currently have to rely on third-party services like TweetDeleter, TweetDelete, TweetEraser, and Redact to remove old posts.
The introduction of a disappearing posts feature on Threads could offer a more seamless and integrated experience, potentially attracting users who are seeking an alternative to X.
Featured Image courtesy of Bloomberg via Getty Images
Follow us for more tech news updates.