Meta’s Threads app could soon integrate Instagram DMs

Threads has evolved significantly to emerge as the most practical alternative to X (formerly Twitter). However, a notable missing feature is the ability to privately message people you know on Threads. An APK teardown of the latest version of the Threads Android app now suggests that private messaging might be in the works — and it could potentially mirror Instagram’s private messaging system.

Checking the code in an APK teardown can give us clues about potential features coming to a service in the future. Keep in mind, though, that features predicted this way might not necessarily end up being part of a public release.

Before we delve into the code, let’s set the stage. In November last year, Threads lead Adam Mosseri shared a thread expressing his hesitancy about integrating a dedicated direct messaging system into Threads. His main reason was that Instagram already had one.

The concern he anticipated was “notification routing weirdness,” where receiving a message on Threads could trigger notifications on both Threads and Instagram. The other option, creating a separate Threads DM system, didn’t appeal to Mosseri either because of “redundant message threads.” He candidly admitted that “neither seems great” between the two ideas.

That being said, to truly go head-to-head with X, Threads has to get into the DM game. Thanks to an APK teardown, we now have a glimpse of the direction Threads might be heading. In the latest version of the Threads Android app (v315.0.0.29.109), there are indications that Threads is at least exploring the possibility of integrating Instagram’s messaging system.

Based on the strings, it seems Threads might directly include Instagram chats, functioning like a sort of “clone” app. We might be off, but the line “When you message people on Instagram, your most recent chats will show up here” gives the impression that Threads may only integrate certain elements of the Instagram messaging system. You could potentially start or reply to chats in Threads, but checking older chats and using advanced features might need you to hop over to Instagram briefly.