Threads is reportedly experimenting with a new feature that will enable users to create posts that vanish after a set time. According to reports, these temporary posts can remain visible for up to 24 hours. Additionally, replies to these posts are expected to be automatically deleted once the main post expires. At present, Meta’s social media platform is piloting this feature with a limited group of users, and it’s unclear when it will be made available to the broader audience.
Meta has confirmed to TechCrunch that it is testing a temporary posts feature with a select group of users. This development follows Threads’ announcement to the publication in June that it was working on temporary posts as an internal prototype. Developer and tipster Alessandro Paluzzi reportedly created a temporary post to demonstrate the feature. According to a screenshot included in the report, a timer counts down to zero. Once the timer reaches zero, the post and all replies associated with it reportedly disappear.
Although the feature’s banner did not specifically mention it, the publication reports that quote posts—reposts with added quotes—also vanish when the timer for the original post expires. Notably, the company has been testing the temporary post feature for several months. Temporary posts are expected not to appear on Threads’ fediverse network. This means that if a user transfers their account to Mastodon, the temporary posts will not be carried over. This is likely because Threads cannot delete posts on external platforms.
Although the use case for this feature may be limited, it could be valuable for users required to make off-topic or context-specific posts with a short lifespan. For example, someone providing live commentary during an Apple or Samsung event could find this feature particularly beneficial.
At present, it is unclear when the feature will be available to the broader user base. Additionally, it is unknown whether users will have the option to set a specific time within the 24-hour window for automatic deletion of posts. These details are expected to be disclosed once the feature is officially launched.
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