Threads tests new shortcut to start direct messages

Meta-owned social platform Threads is testing a new shortcut designed to let users quickly start direct message (DM) conversations. On Thursday, Meta announced the test of the feature, which allows users to initiate private chats directly from a post or reply. Users who are part of the test can type “DM me” or “Message me” in a post or reply to automatically generate a hyperlink that invites others to start a private conversation with them. According to the company, this new shortcut removes the need to navigate to a person’s profile page to start a direct message conversation. Tapping the shortcut takes the user directly to a one-on-one chat. If both users follow each other, the message goes directly to their primary inbox. If they do not follow each other, the message is filtered through the “Message Requests” folder to prevent spam.

The introduction of the messaging shortcut comes as Threads shows significant growth in mobile engagement. According to data from market intelligence firm Similarweb, Threads now surpasses X in daily mobile usage. Similarweb reported that Threads had 141.5 million daily active users on mobile as of January 7, 2026. In comparison, competitor social network X had 125 million daily active users on mobile as of the same date. While X still dominates Threads on the web, the Threads mobile application for iOS and Android has continued to see an increase in daily active users over the past several months.

Currently, the new direct messaging shortcut is rolling out only to select users in the U.S. and Canada. Because the feature is in a testing phase, it is unknown when or if Threads plans to roll out the shortcut more widely to its broader user base. The DM shortcut is just one of several new features that have rolled out on Threads in recent months. The social network recently introduced an AI-powered feature that lets users personalize their feed, and the ability to share posts directly to an Instagram Story without leaving the app. Additionally, Threads was spotted exploring in-message games last month.

Why it matters

By reducing the steps required to start a conversation, Meta is signaling that private messaging is becoming a central component of the Threads user experience.