Latest news with #directMessaging
Tahawul Tech
2 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Threads to test direct messaging feature
Meta's Threads app announced it would begin rolling out direct messaging, features long offered by rivals, in a bid to attract more users. Users in select markets, including Hong Kong and Thailand, will get a dedicated inbox for direct messages on the app as part of the test, eliminating the need to switch to Instagram's messaging platform. Meta said messages on Threads will not be encrypted for now. Threads and Instagram have long been intertwined as part of Meta's plans to leverage the image and video sharing platform's massive user base to better compete with services such as X, TikTok and Reddit for digital ad dollars. Meta announced the expansion of advertising on Threads to all eligible advertisers globally in April. However, the company has said it did not expect Threads to be a 'meaningful driver' of revenue growth in 2025. Research firm Emarketer expects Threads' U.S. monthly active users will grow 17.5% to 60.5 million by next year, surpassing X, whose user base is expected to decline 14.4% to 50 million. U.S. trade restrictions and the rise of AI‑powered ad targeting have pushed social media platforms to enhance their offerings, adding distinctive features and sharper user experiences to stand out in a saturated market. Source: Reuters Image Credit: Stock Image
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Meta's Threads app to test direct messaging in some countries
Meta Platforms META-Q said it would start rolling out direct messaging on its Threads app, adding a feature long offered by rivals, in a bid to attract more users. Users in select markets, including Hong Kong and Thailand, will get a dedicated inbox for direct messages on the app as part of the test, eliminating the need to switch to Instagram's messaging platform, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday. Meta said messages on Threads will not be encrypted for now. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg reportedly hiring new 'superintelligence' AI team Threads and Instagram have long been intertwined as part of Meta's plans to leverage the image and video sharing platform's massive user base to better compete with services such as X, TikTok and Reddit for digital ad dollars. Launched in 2023 as a competitor to Elon Musk's X, then known as Twitter, following his chaotic takeover of the platform, Threads quickly attracted consumers and now boasts over 350 million monthly active users. Meta announced the expansion of advertising on Threads to all eligible advertisers globally in April. However, the company has said it did not expect Threads to be a 'meaningful driver' of revenue growth in 2025. Research firm Emarketer expects Threads' U.S. monthly active users will grow 17.5 per cent to 60.5 million by next year, surpassing X, whose user base is expected to decline 14.4 per cent to 50 million. U.S. trade restrictions and the rise of AI-powered ad targeting have pushed social media platforms to enhance their offerings, adding distinctive features and sharper user experiences to stand out in a saturated market.
CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Meta's Threads to test direct messaging feature in select markets
Meta Platforms said it would start rolling out direct messaging on its Threads app, adding a feature long offered by rivals, in a bid to attract more users. Users in select markets, including Hong Kong and Thailand, will get a dedicated inbox for direct messages on the app as part of the test, eliminating the need to switch to Instagram's messaging platform, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday. Meta said messages on Threads will not be encrypted for now. Threads and Instagram have long been intertwined as part of Meta's plans to leverage the image and video sharing platform's massive user base to better compete with services such as X, TikTok and Reddit for digital ad dollars. Launched in 2023 as a competitor to Elon Musk's X, then known as Twitter, following his chaotic takeover of the platform, Threads quickly attracted consumers and now boasts over 350 million monthly active users. Meta announced the expansion of advertising on Threads to all eligible advertisers globally in April. However, the company has said it did not expect Threads to be a "meaningful driver" of revenue growth in 2025. Research firm Emarketer expects Threads' U.S. monthly active users will grow 17.5 per cent to 60.5 million by next year, surpassing X, whose user base is expected to decline 14.4 per cent to 50 million. U.S. trade restrictions and the rise of AI‑powered ad targeting have pushed social media platforms to enhance their offerings, adding distinctive features and sharper user experiences to stand out in a saturated market.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Meta's Threads to test direct messaging feature in select markets
June 10 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab said it would start rolling out direct messaging on its Threads app, adding a feature long offered by rivals, in a bid to attract more users. Users in select markets, including Hong Kong and Thailand, will get a dedicated inbox for direct messages on the app as part of the test, eliminating the need to switch to Instagram's messaging platform, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday. Meta said messages on Threads will not be encrypted for now. Threads and Instagram have long been intertwined as part of Meta's plans to leverage the image and video sharing platform's massive user base to better compete with services such as X, TikTok and Reddit (RDDT.N), opens new tab for digital ad dollars. Launched in 2023 as a competitor to Elon Musk's X, then known as Twitter, following his chaotic takeover of the platform, Threads quickly attracted consumers and now boasts over 350 million monthly active users. Meta announced the expansion of advertising on Threads to all eligible advertisers globally in April. However, the company has said it did not expect Threads to be a "meaningful driver" of revenue growth in 2025. Research firm Emarketer expects Threads' U.S. monthly active users will grow 17.5% to 60.5 million by next year, surpassing X, whose user base is expected to decline 14.4% to 50 million. U.S. trade restrictions and the rise of AI‑powered ad targeting have pushed social media platforms to enhance their offerings, adding distinctive features and sharper user experiences to stand out in a saturated market.
TechCrunch
02-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Elon Musk says XChat is rolling out to all, but questions remain about its alleged security
Elon Musk on Sunday announced that a new version of X's Direct Messaging (DM) feature, XChat, was rolling out with support for features like vanishing messages, encryption, and the ability to share files, alongside its audio and video calling support. The new features aren't yet broadly available, as XChat only recently started beta testing among a select group of users. However, Musk said that the X team expects to bring XChat to all users sometime this week, unless they encounter scaling issues during the rollout. In a series of X posts, Musk also noted that the updated version of XChat has been built on Rust with 'Bitcoin style' encryption and a 'whole new architecture.' It's not clear what he means by Bitcoin-style encryption, given that Bitcoin itself cannot be described as 'encrypted.' (Bitcoin uses public key cryptography and signatures for its security.) As a result, some are debating whether Musk is using the terminology simply as marketing speak, if he misunderstands encryption, or if he used the wrong word — perhaps meaning to say 'cryptography' instead. The X owner has often spoken of wanting to make X's DMs a challenger to encrypted platforms like Signal and iMessage. However, calling XChat a service with only 'Bitcoin-style encryption' calls into question whether it's really a potential competitor. In addition, Musk shared on X that XChat users can now make audio and video calls without a phone number across all platforms. Ahead of this launch, X said it was pausing work on encrypted DMs, presumably because XChat would soon replace the older system. Unfortunately for X users, the service has faced some significant instability over the past week or so, as multiple outages left users unable to browse timelines and use other features, including XChat.
