Threads Introduces Live Chats for Real-Time Group Conversations During Live Events
Threads has unveiled a new feature called Live Chats, enabling users to participate in public, real-time group conversations centered around major live events. This innovation combines elements of traditional group chats with trending topics, fostering a more interactive and community-driven experience.
Enhancing Community Engagement
With Live Chats, Threads users can join public group discussions during live events, such as NBA games, and engage in real-time conversations with others who are following the same event. Participants can exchange messages, share photos, videos, and links, and use reaction emojis to express their sentiments. Even if a chat reaches its participant limit, users can still observe the conversation, react to messages, and participate in polls.
Hosting and Accessibility
Currently, the ability to host Live Chats is limited to a select group of creators and Community Champions. Once initiated, these chats become publicly discoverable and remain accessible even after the live session concludes. Eligible hosts can schedule a Live Chat by tapping the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their Community, selecting ‘Schedule a Live Chat,’ naming the chat, setting start and end times, and inviting participants. Hosts can also share their Live Chats on their Threads feed and Instagram Story to increase visibility.
Integration with Communities
Ongoing and upcoming Live Chats are prominently displayed at the top of relevant communities, such as NBA Threads. Once users join a Live Chat, they can access it from the Messages tab, similar to other one-on-one or group chats within the app.
