Threads Tests Long-Form Text Sharing Feature
▼ Summary
– Threads is testing a new text attachment feature that allows users to share long-form content in a single post with styling tools.
– The feature was first spotted on iOS and aims to help creators share deeper thoughts, news, or excerpts without workarounds like screenshots.
– Unlike X’s long-form “Articles” feature for Premium subscribers, Threads’ text attachment is currently accessible to all users.
– Threads’ feature only supports text at present, while X allows multimedia, but Threads may add multimedia support in the future.
– This addition is part of Threads’ ongoing feature expansion, which has helped it reach over 400 million monthly active users.
Meta has confirmed that Threads is currently testing a new long-form text sharing feature, allowing users to post extended written content directly within the platform. This innovation aims to provide a more seamless experience for sharing detailed thoughts, articles, or excerpts without requiring multiple threaded posts or external workarounds.
The feature, referred to as “text attachment,” was first identified by app researcher Radu Oncescu on iOS. It enables users to attach a block of text to a single post, complete with styling tools for formatting. This approach is designed to support deeper expression, whether for news summaries, literary excerpts, or personal essays.
For creators and writers, this development could be a game-changer. Instead of directing audiences to external blogs or platforms like Substack, users can now publish long-form content natively on Threads. This not only simplifies the sharing process but also helps retain engagement within the Meta ecosystem. No more need to screenshot text from notes apps or split ideas across several posts.
A demonstration shared by Threads user Robert P. Nickson shows how the feature appears to viewers: a gray box previews the text, which can be expanded for full reading. This clean, integrated design maintains the visual flow of the feed while offering access to longer content.
Unlike competitor X, which limits its long-form “Articles” feature to Premium subscribers, Threads is currently making text attachments available to all users. However, it’s worth noting that this could change as the feature evolves. Another distinction is that Threads’ offering is text-only for now, while X supports embedded media. Given that the tool is still in testing, future updates may introduce multimedia support.
This is just one of several recent upgrades to Threads, which has also rolled out direct messaging, fediverse integration, custom feeds, and AI-powered enhancements. The platform recently surpassed 400 million monthly active users, a significant milestone for an app launched just two years ago. While it still trails X’s reported 600 million users, continued feature expansion like this could help close the gap.
Meta has indicated that it plans to expand access to the text attachment feature to more users in the coming months.
(Source: TechCrunch)
