Meta has introduced Live Chats on its Threads app, enabling real-time conversations during major events. The feature debuts in the NBAThreads Community amid the NBA Playoffs, hosted by personalities including Malika Andrews and Rachel Nichols. Users can join public chats with polls, live scores, and media sharing.
On Wednesday, Meta announced Live Chats for Threads, a new tool for real-time group discussions tied to high-profile events like sports playoffs and album releases. The feature allows users to send messages, photos, videos, links, and emoji reactions. Chats include countdowns, polls, and live scores to sustain engagement, and they remain viewable after ending, even if they reach capacity—where viewers can still react and participate in polls. Anyone can join without being in the specific community, though only select creators and Community Champions can host them. Hosts schedule chats via a three-dot menu, naming them and sharing links on Threads or Instagram Stories. A red circle or ring appears on a host's profile photo when live, with chats surfacing at the top of community feeds or in users' main feeds if following a host. The rollout begins in the NBAThreads Community during the NBA Playoffs, featuring hosts Malika Andrews, Rachel Nichols, Trysta Krick, David Rushing, and Lexis Mickens. Meta plans to expand Live Chats to more communities soon, adding co-hosting, play-by-play commentary, lock screen widgets, and options to quote and share chat messages directly in feeds. This builds on Threads' growth since its 2023 launch, including recent additions like communities and a web facelift.
