Platform
Threads Rolls Out New ‘Live Chats’ Tools as Feature Heads to Web
Threads is rolling out two updates to its “Live Chats” feature, adding tools that let spectators signal they want to join a conversation and react to an entire live moment at once, while a web version of Live Chats is now in the pipeline.
The first addition, “Raise Hand,” gives spectators watching a Live Chat a way to flag interest in joining the conversation, giving hosts a direct method for pulling engaged viewers in.
The second, “Live Reactions,” lets anyone share an emoji reaction visible to the whole chat at once, with the reaction floating up the screen in real time, rather than reacting to a single message. Threads also confirmed that Live Chats are coming to the web, a feature the company said has been among the community’s most requested. The web version will let users tune in and participate without opening the app.

Threads launched Live Chats earlier this year as public group chats built around live events, debuting the feature in the NBA Threads Community during the NBA Playoffs. According to Meta’s original announcement, the format was designed to move faster than a standard group chat, with a red profile ring signaling when a host is live, along with real-time polls, countdowns, typing indicators, and live scores that keep the conversation synced to the game in progress. Chats are hosted by a select group of creators, including “Community Champions” who are active in a given Threads community, and hosts can schedule a Live Chat, set a start and end time, and share it to their Threads feed or Instagram Story.
Since launch, Live Chats have extended to moments spanning music, sports, and fandom, including Coachella, KATSEYE, the FIFA World Cup, and Jay-Z. Threads is continuing that expansion with dedicated Live Chats around “Dancing with the Stars” and the WNBA playoffs.
The platform reported 500 million monthly active users in June 2026, up from 400 million as of January, and Meta began expanding ads on Threads to all users worldwide earlier in the year, following a year of testing.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Check Out Our Podcast
