Threads from Instagram is a new app made to keep you in touch with your close friends

3 min readUpdated May 26, 2025Oct 15, 201911:01 PM

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Facebook got away with one of the biggest thefts (legal, mind you) in the history of technology. Back in April 2012, not long after Instagram launched its Android app, Facebook bought the company for a paltry $1 billion. Not that anyone knew it was a steal at the time; Instagram was merely an app with photo filters and no one could foresee how it would explode to become one of the most popular social media destinations. By June 2018, Instagram reached a milestone as it hit one billion monthly active users. At that time, it was estimated that Instagram alone was worth $100 billion dollars. So obviously Facebook made an incredible investment.

Today, Facebook announced a new “camera-first messaging app” called Threads from Instagram. This is a stand-alone app designed to keep you connected with a small group of friends; the idea is to use the camera on your phone to shoot photographs and videos to express how you’re feeling. You can share photos, videos, messages, and even Stories with your those on your Instagram close friends list. With Threads from Instagram, you get to decide who you communicate with.

“Over the last few years, we’ve introduced several new ways to share visually on Instagram and connect with people you care about – from sharing everyday moments on Stories to visual messages on Direct. But for your smaller circle of friends, we saw the need to stay more connected throughout the day, so you can communicate what you’re doing and how you’re feeling through photos and videos. That’s why we built Threads, a new way to message with close friends in a dedicated, private space.

Threads is a standalone app designed with privacy, speed and your close connections in mind. You can share photos, videos, messages, Stories and more with your Instagram close friends list. You are in control of who can reach you on Threads, and you can customize the experience around the people who matter most.”-Facebook

With Threads from Instagram, you can message only those people whom you put on your Instagram close friends list; you’ll have an inbox and receive notifications just for messages from them. And if you haven’t made a close friends list on Instagram, you can do so directly from the Threads from Instagram app once you install it. The app opens by default to the camera and allows you to add shortcuts to the screen. That means you can share your images and videos with just two taps

If you don’t have the time to send a photo, video or message to your buds, you can tell them what’s up using Status. Thread will recommend one (like studying), or you can customize your own (for example, procrastinating). And with Auto Status, the app will share a little bit about where you are without giving away actual coordinates. For example, Auto Status could show that you’re on the move, at home or in a coffee shop. If you are inside a coffee shop, the Auto Status won’t reveal the name of the shop or the address of the specific location you’re at. Status and Auto Status can only be viewed by your closest friends, and it is opt-in. You decide when to share your Status, and more importantly, you decide who gets the opportunity to see it.

Even if you install Threads from Instagram, messages from your closest friends will still appear in Direct on Instagram besides showing up in the new app. This way, you don’t have to give up Instagram when messaging with your closest pals. Threads from Instagram (remember the full name-otherwise you’ll end up with a sewing app) started rolling out globally today for Android and iOS from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, respectively.

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Questions & Answers

What is the main purpose of the new Threads app from Instagram?

Threads is a stand-alone, camera-first messaging app designed to help users stay connected with a small group of close friends. It allows sharing of photos, videos, messages, and Stories from your Instagram close friends list in a dedicated space.

How does Threads enhance privacy compared to the main Instagram app?

Threads focuses on private communication with your chosen close friends, allowing you to decide who can reach you. Features like Status and Auto Status are also only visible to your closest friends, and are opt-in for user control.

Will messages from close friends still appear on Instagram Direct if I use Threads?

Yes, messages from your closest friends will continue to appear in Direct on Instagram, in addition to showing up in the new Threads app. This means users don't have to abandon Instagram for these communications.

What is the 'Auto Status' feature and what kind of information does it share?

Auto Status shares a bit about a user's location, for example, if they are 'on the move' or 'at home'. However, it does not reveal specific addresses or names of locations, like a coffee shop's name, to maintain privacy.