Threads tests a new shortcut for faster direct message conversations

Threads is testing a new shortcut designed to make it quicker and easier for users to start direct message conversations, Meta announced on Thursday. As part of the test, users can type phrases like “DM me” or “Message me” in a post or reply, and Threads will automatically turn that text into a hyperlink that invites others to start a private conversation with them.

When someone taps the shortcut link, it opens a one-on-one direct messaging chat with the person who posted it. If both users follow each other, the message goes straight into the recipient’s primary inbox. If they don’t follow each other, the message is routed to the “Message Requests” folder, a filtering step intended to reduce spam.

Threads says the shortcut is meant to remove the need for users to visit someone’s profile before starting a DM, cutting down the steps required to begin a conversation.

Although Threads was relatively late to introduce built-in direct messaging, this update signals that the platform is working to make messaging a more central part of the Threads experience by streamlining how users initiate private chats.

The new shortcut is currently rolling out to a limited group of users in the United States and Canada. As with most test features, it’s unclear if or when Threads plans to expand the feature to a broader audience.

The DM shortcut is one of several additions Threads has introduced in recent months. The platform recently rolled out an AI-powered feature that allows users to personalise their feed, added the ability to share posts directly to an Instagram Story without leaving the app, and was also spotted experimenting with in-message games last month.

These updates follow a recent report from the market intelligence firm Similarweb, which suggests that Threads now surpasses X in daily mobile usage. While X still leads Threads on the web, the Threads mobile app on iOS and Android has continued to grow its daily active user base over the last several months. According to the report, Threads reached 141.5 million daily active users on mobile as of January 7, 2026, compared with X at 125 million.