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Threads introduces live chats to compete with X
23 Apr 2026

Meta's social media platform, Threads, has launched a new feature called "Live Chats." The update is aimed at enhancing real-time conversations during cultural events.

The first community to get this feature is NBA Threads, where media personalities like Malika Andrews and Rachel Nichols will host live chats during the playoffs.

How do live chats work?
Feature details

Live Chats allow users to send messages, photos, videos, links, and emoji reactions.

Up to 150 participants can actively engage in a chat while others can view the conversation and react as spectators.

The feature is currently available only to select creators but will be rolled out more widely over time.

Competing with X
Competitive edge

When Threads first launched, it struggled to keep up with X in terms of relevance and timeliness. The platform didn't have many features like robust search, hashtags, and a chronological feed that X had.

Now, with the introduction of Live Chats, Threads hopes to better compete with X by offering something even Elon Musk's app doesn't have - a feature specifically designed for real-time engagement.

A new way to build community
User engagement

Meta explained in a blog post that Live Chats are "a new way to build community with others around shared interests like an album drop or a big game as it unfolds."

The company added that these chats are more dynamic than traditional group chats because they are designed for real-time conversations around cultural moments as they happen.

Accessing and moderating live chats
User control

Users can access Live Chats from the top of a Community feed, through a shared post in their main feed, or by tapping the red live ring around a host's profile photo.

Although these chats end after some time, they remain open and publicly discoverable even after their conclusion.

Meta has also added moderation tools for hosts to keep things friendly and organized during these live conversations.