Threads, the social media platform owned by Meta, is testing a new feature that allows users to generate a direct message link by typing "DM me" or "Message me" in a post. The test, announced on Thursday, is currently available to a select group of users in the United States and Canada, with no confirmed timeline for a wider release.
The shortcut automatically creates a hyperlink that, when tapped, opens a one-on-one direct messaging chat with the person who posted it. This move is designed to reduce the steps required to initiate a private conversation, eliminating the need to navigate to a user's profile first.
Streamlining Conversations
According to the company, the new feature simplifies starting private chats. If both users follow each other, messages sent via the link go directly to the recipient's primary inbox. If they do not follow each other, the message is filtered into the "Message Requests" folder to help prevent spam.
This development signals Threads's intent to make direct messaging a more integral part of its user experience. The platform was notably late in introducing a native direct messaging (DM) feature, and this test represents a continued effort to enhance its communication tools.
Part of a Broader Feature Rollout
The DM shortcut is the latest in a series of new features introduced to Threads in recent months. The social network has also launched an AI-powered tool for personalising user feeds and enabled the sharing of posts directly to an Instagram Story without leaving the Threads app.
Last month, Threads was also spotted exploring in-message games, further indicating a strategy to increase user engagement and time spent on the platform.
Growing User Base
These feature additions coincide with a reported shift in the social media landscape. A recent analysis from market intelligence firm Similarweb suggested that Threads now surpasses X in daily mobile usage. While X maintains dominance in web traffic, Threads's mobile app for iOS and Android has seen a consistent increase in daily active users over several months.
The report, citing data from January 7, 2026, states that Threads had approximately 141.5 million daily active users on mobile, compared to X's 125 million.