Meta’s Threads, the app often seen as Instagram’s answer to Twitter (now X), is quietly testing a feature that could change how people use the platform: long-form text posts. This move positions Threads closer to becoming a serious competitor in the online publishing and microblogging space, especially at a time when creators and users alike are looking for alternatives that allow for deeper expression beyond quick updates.
Currently, Threads limits posts to shorter formats that resemble the conversational style of Twitter. But with long-form content being tested, the app could begin carving out its own lane. Instead of simply being a Twitter clone, Threads has the chance to merge the immediacy of social chatter with the depth of blog-like writing. This is particularly appealing for creators, writers, and thought leaders who often outgrow short formats and crave a platform that balances reach with substance.
The timing is also important. Platforms like Substack and Medium have proven there’s a demand for long-form writing online, while LinkedIn and X are also leaning into more expansive content formats. If Threads executes this well, it could become a middle ground where creators don’t have to choose between brevity and storytelling. However, the challenge lies in whether users — who are already overwhelmed with apps — will be willing to shift their long-form reading and writing habits into Threads.
In my opinion, the success of this feature will depend heavily on how Meta integrates discovery and monetization. Writers and creators will only invest their time if their work can be found, shared, and potentially monetized. Without that, long-form content could become yet another underused feature lost in the noise of the app. But if Threads learns from the mistakes of Twitter Notes and leans on Instagram’s massive network effect, it may finally position itself as more than just a Twitter alternative.
Threads experimenting with long-form posts shows that Meta is listening to users who want flexibility and depth. The question now is whether this test will evolve into a core feature, and if so, whether Threads can truly become a home for meaningful conversations in a digital world obsessed with speed.
