Threads tests long-form text sharing
Meta is testing a new feature on Threads that makes it easier for users to share long-form content, the company confirmed to TechCrunch on Thursday. The feature allows users to attach an extended block of text to a post, offering a more natural way to publish detailed thoughts without breaking them into multiple posts.
The update, first spotted by app researcher Radu Oncescu, introduces what Threads calls a “text attachment”. According to the app’s description, the tool is designed for sharing “deeper thoughts, news snippets, book excerpts, and more,” while giving users access to basic styling options for formatting their content.
A Cleaner Alternative to Screenshots
Until now, users who wanted to post beyond Threads’ character limits often resorted to clunky workarounds, like uploading screenshots of notes. The new feature eliminates that need. Instead, long-form text appears as a snippet inside a gray box within the post. Viewers can tap to expand and scroll through the full content.
Threads user Robert P. Nickson demonstrated the feature in action, showing how neatly it integrates into the feed.
Competing with X’s Articles
The move brings Threads closer to rival X, which already offers a long-form publishing tool called Articles. However, X restricts that capability to its Premium subscribers, while Threads currently makes text attachments available to all users in testing. That said, Meta could introduce restrictions or premium perks in the future.
There are also some limitations: for now, Threads’ version only supports text, whereas X’s Articles can include images and videos. Given the experimental stage, it’s possible Meta will expand the feature to include multimedia attachments down the line.
A Bid to Retain Writers and Creators
The addition of long-form posts could help Threads attract and retain creators, writers, and bloggers who otherwise rely on platforms like Substack or Medium to distribute articles. By enabling deeper storytelling natively, Threads is positioning itself as more than just a quick-post social app.
The new tool follows a series of recent updates on Threads, including direct messaging, fediverse integrations, custom feeds, and AI-powered enhancements.
Growth and Rivalry
Threads’ momentum has been noteworthy. The app surpassed 400 million monthly active users just two years after its launch. While X remains larger with more than 600 million monthly active users, according to former CEO Linda Yaccarino, Meta’s steady rollout of new features shows its ambition to close the gap.
Meta says it plans to expand access to text attachments more broadly after testing.
