Update, Sep 4: The feature is now live. Find the new details below.
While Threads already allows up to 500 characters per post (which is more than enough for casual users used to the microblogging format), it is now testing support for long-form posts through “text attachments”. Here’s how it works.
Meta has confirmed the test, but has no ETA for the feature
As spotted by app researcher Radu Oncescu (via TechCrunch), Threads is testing a new “text attachment” feature on iOS, which could replace the common practice of stringing together multiple posts that blow past the platform’s character limit.
With the feature (as it is currently being tested), users can attach a formatted block of text to a regular post, which means it can include italics, bold, and underlines, instead of just plain text like today.
When posted, the attached text appears within a gray box, which can be expanded by clicking the “Read more” button.
Onescu says that Threads describes the feature as something that will allow users to “attach longer text and get creative with styling tools to share deeper thoughts, news snippets, book excerpts, and more.”
Currently, the feature doesn’t support embedded media or links. But depending on user feedback, Threads could very well implement this ahead of the official launch if Meta decides to move forward with it.
It’s worth noting that the feature currently appears to be intended for all users, rather than as a paid perk, like on X. On the former Twitter platform, standard posts are still capped at 280 characters, while Premium subscribers can share texts up to 25,000 characters long.
Update, September 4: The feature was officially announced today by Mark Zuckerberg on Threads:
View on Threads
In a Meta Newsroom post, the company confirmed the 10,000 character limit to attachments, and added that aside from bold, italics, underline and strikethrough, there actually is the possibility to include an outward link at the end of the attached text:
“Any attached text can be read directly in Threads to help you convey more complex perspectives, draw your audience in, and promote your work. If you’re sharing or previewing content from other platforms on Threads, you can include a link to the full content in the body of your main post.”
Meta says that today’s rollout is part of its broader strategy to increase Threads’ appeal to creators, and that it will “continue gathering feedback on how to improve” creator-geared features.
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