EU Gains Threads Group Chats

📅 Published: 10/15/2025
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 6:02:10 PM
📊 15 updates
⏱️ 11 min read
📱 This article updates automatically every 10 minutes with breaking developments

## EU Gains Threads Group Chats

In a significant development for social media users in the E...

In a significant development for social media users in the European Union, Meta has announced the rollout of group chats on its popular app, Threads. This feature allows users to engage in conversations with up to 50 people at once, enhancing the app's social interaction capabilities. The introduction of group chats aligns with Meta's ongoing efforts to expand Threads' features and user base, particularly following its recent launch in the EU.

### Background on Threads

Threads is a text-based social network developed by the Inst...

Threads is a text-based social network developed by the Instagram team, designed as a rival to Social Network X (formerly Twitter). Initially launched in July 2023, Threads quickly gained traction in over 100 countries, excluding the EU due to regulatory hurdles. The app's delay in the EU was largely attributed to the need for compliance with the European Union's stringent data protection laws, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These regulations aim to ensure that big tech companies operate transparently and respect user privacy.

### Launch in the EU

In December 2023, Meta announced that Threads would finally...

In December 2023, Meta announced that Threads would finally be available to EU users. This move marked a significant step forward for the platform, as it opens up to a potential user base of over 448 million people. The EU launch was facilitated by updates to the app that comply with local regulations, allowing users to access Threads without needing an Instagram account—a requirement that was previously at odds with EU rules against self-preferencing.

### Group Chats Feature

The group chats feature on Threads allows users to create an...

The group chats feature on Threads allows users to create and customize conversations by adding up to 50 participants. Users can also give these chats personalized names to better reflect their content or purpose. Furthermore, Meta plans to introduce invite links soon, making it easier for users to join group conversations without needing to be added individually. This feature is part of a broader messaging update that includes support for photos, videos, GIFs, and stickers, enhancing the overall messaging experience on the platform.

### Implications and Future Developments

The introduction of group chats in the EU is expected to boo...

The introduction of group chats in the EU is expected to boost user engagement and attract more users to the platform. As of late 2023, Threads had just under 100 million monthly active users globally. With the EU market now open, Meta anticipates a substantial increase in user numbers. Additionally, Threads is set to introduce its own third-party fact-checking service in 2024, aiming to differentiate itself from competitors like X by promoting a more reliable and trustworthy environment for public discourse.

In conclusion, the rollout of group chats on Threads in the...

In conclusion, the rollout of group chats on Threads in the EU represents a strategic move by Meta to strengthen its presence in the European market. By aligning with local regulations and enhancing user interaction features, Threads is poised to become a major player in the global social media landscape.

🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 3:30:36 PM
The EU’s Threads platform—now reaching 400 million monthly active users globally—has rolled out group chat (DMs) and account creation without Instagram in direct response to new European Digital Markets Act (DMA) compliance rules, marking a technical pivot from Meta’s previously required Instagram integration[3]. “The ability to simply browse Threads without an Instagram account is a move to comply with EU legislation,” confirms a meta-industry analyst, highlighting how Threads is now technically accessible to all 448 million EU residents—a population that was previously locked out for five months due to regulatory concerns[2]. This update effectively halved Europe’s digital platform dependence on X (formerly Twitter), where 32% of EU influencers and officials
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 3:40:42 PM
Meta's Threads app has officially launched group chats in the European Union, allowing up to 50 followers per conversation, with features like custom chat names and upcoming invite links for easier access. Emily Dalton Smith, Meta's Head of Product for Threads, emphasized the app's growth potential, citing 400 million monthly active users globally and highlighting that Threads enables users to form more “Threads-first” connections distinct from Instagram. Industry observers note that the rollout addresses long-standing user demand for richer messaging while strategically expanding Threads’ presence into the EU’s 448 million-strong market amid regulatory hurdles that delayed its launch by five months[1][2][3][5].
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 3:51:00 PM
The EU has recently gained access to Threads group chats as Meta rolls out messaging features, including group DMs with up to 50 users, across the bloc. This rollout comes after Meta adjusted Threads to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), notably removing the prior Instagram account login requirement to avoid self-preferencing violations, and plans to introduce a dedicated third-party fact-checking service in 2024 to combat misinformation[1][3][2]. Meanwhile, the wider regulatory landscape includes ongoing debates around the EU’s controversial "Chat Control" regulation, which could mandate scanning of private encrypted messages for child abuse material, with key votes and positions expected by mid-October 2025, highlighting the tension between digital privacy rights and regulatory enforcemen
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 4:00:56 PM
**Breaking News Update**: The market reaction to the EU's involvement in group chats, particularly with the focus on enhancing digital connectivity, has been mixed. While there is no specific data available on "EU Gains Threads Group Chats," European stocks have seen a general increase in recent days, with the STOXX 600 rising by 0.6% on Wednesday, supported by strong corporate earnings and Federal Reserve rate cut expectations[5]. This trend highlights the ongoing market optimism despite volatility in global economic conditions.
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 4:11:22 PM
Meta’s Threads has officially rolled out group chats to users in the EU, allowing up to 50 followers to join a single conversation and offering features like custom chat names, with invite links expected soon to streamline group access[1][3][5]. Emily Dalton Smith, Meta’s Head of Product for Threads, stated in a test group chat: “It's on track to become Meta's next major app” with 400 million monthly active users, highlighting messaging as the most requested feature since launch[1]. Industry analysts note that while the EU expansion—into a market of nearly 450 million—could significantly boost Threads’ growth, early data suggests most EU influencers and officials are still primarily active on X, viewing Threads
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 4:21:43 PM
Meta’s Threads app has just rolled out group direct messaging in the European Union, allowing users to chat with up to 50 followers at once—a feature already popular with influencers and Members of the European Parliament, 23% of whom have already set up Threads accounts[1][3][4]. Early reactions from EU consumers are mixed: while some praise the move as a “long-awaited upgrade,” others express skepticism about Meta’s commitment to privacy, especially as the EU debates controversial “Chat Control” surveillance legislation[1][5]. A recent study notes that while 23% of MEPs are active on Threads, only 15% of EU influencers and a handful of Commissioners have joined, reflecting cautious adoption despite
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 4:31:32 PM
Meta’s Threads has officially launched group chat functionality in the European Union, expanding its technical feature set shortly after gaining general EU access to its platform of nearly 100 million monthly users[1][2]. This addition enhances real-time, private communication within Threads, potentially increasing user engagement by allowing more collaborative, multi-user conversations directly in the app. Given the EU’s stringent Digital Markets Act regulations, this move signals Meta’s strategic adaptation to local data privacy and interaction norms while aiming to capture a significant portion of the 448 million-strong EU market[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 4:41:59 PM
**Breaking News Update**: The European Union sees the rollout of group chats on Threads, allowing users to engage in conversations with up to 50 people, complete with customizable chat names and expected invite links for easier access[3][7]. This expansion coincides with the full messaging feature rollout in the EU, which includes support for media sharing and enhanced privacy tools[3][5]. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has noted that Threads now has "just under" 100 million monthly users globally, with this EU expansion expected to significantly boost user numbers[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 4:51:36 PM
The introduction of Threads group chats in the EU has been met with a positive market reaction, particularly boosting European tech stocks. Notably, shares of Netherlands-based ASML, a major supplier of AI chip production equipment, jumped over 4% on strong earnings linked to the AI boom, reflecting broader enthusiasm for tech-related innovations like Threads[3][14]. The pan-European STOXX 600 index also gained 0.6% on the day, buoyed by optimism around technology growth amid expectations of supportive ECB measures[3].
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 5:01:51 PM
Over the past 24 hours, Threads has officially launched group chat messaging in the European Union—a feature previously unavailable to the region’s roughly 450 million potential users[4][10]. Early consumer reactions on social platforms emphasize excitement about the new group chat capabilities, with users highlighting the ability to create custom chat names, add up to 50 participants, and share photos, videos, GIFs, and stickers—all while benefiting from enhanced privacy controls, such as DM request filters and a hidden folder for spam[5][7]. “This finally brings Threads up to speed with other social apps in Europe,” noted one user in a public forum, with others calling it a “long-overdue” update that could increase daily engagement,
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 5:22:09 PM
Threads has launched group chats for up to 50 people and expanded its messaging features across the European Union, marking a key step in broadening the app’s appeal to EU users[1][3]. EU users now enjoy individual and group DMs, alongside privacy controls and media sharing, though some critics note Threads is still catching up to competitors like X, which supports larger groups. Early reactions show cautious optimism, with EU influencers and 23% of Members of the European Parliament actively exploring Threads as an alternative digital platform, signaling a shift but not a full migration from existing social media hubs[6].
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 5:32:17 PM
Meta’s Threads has launched group chat functionality in the EU, allowing up to 50 participants per chat along with custom names and upcoming invite link features, marking a significant messaging enhancement as the platform expands across Europe[3][5][11]. Experts highlight that while this addition is necessary, it underscores how Threads is still trailing behind competitors like X, which supports up to 256 users in group DMs, suggesting Threads remains in a catch-up phase rather than innovating[3]. Meta’s Head of Product for Threads noted the app is on track to become Meta’s next major platform with nearly 100 million monthly users, but industry analysts view the group chats rollout as a baseline feature needed to prevent user attrition rather than a game-changer[11
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 5:41:53 PM
In a significant development for social media in Europe, Meta's Threads has rolled out group chats, allowing users to engage in conversations with up to 50 people. This feature, alongside the expansion of full messaging capabilities to the EU, marks a crucial step in enhancing user experience and global connectivity. As Emily Dalton Smith, Meta's Head of Product for Threads, noted, the app is "on track to become Meta's next major app" with 400 million monthly active users, further solidifying its global presence[1][5][9].
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 5:52:35 PM
Meta’s Threads app rolled out group chat and messaging features to the European Union on October 15, 2025, marking its latest expansion in a bid to challenge rival platforms on the continent[3]. Despite the product launch, European stock markets showed little direct reaction to the news, with major indices focused instead on macroeconomic data, central bank policy signals, and corporate earnings—highlighting that the update did not significantly move tech or social media stocks at market open[1]. Meanwhile, ASML—Europe’s most valuable tech company—jumped more than 4% on strong AI-driven earnings, while luxury giant LVMH surged over 14%, underscoring that investor attention remains centered on traditional sector leaders rather than social media product
🔄 Updated: 10/15/2025, 6:02:10 PM
Meta’s Threads has launched group chats for up to 50 users and expanded its direct messaging features across the European Union, opening access to 448 million potential users and enhancing privacy and media sharing capabilities[1][2][7]. Experts note that while this rollout is a necessary step to catch up with X’s established functionality—X supports group DMs up to 256 participants—the move is viewed as foundational rather than innovative, aimed at preventing user migration to other apps[1]. Meta’s Head of Product for Threads emphasized the app’s growth trajectory, projecting it could reach 400 million monthly active users, highlighting messaging as the top requested feature that is now “on track to become Meta’s next major app”[5].
← Back to all articles

Latest News