Meta is testing 'Threads Friends' for sharing posts with smaller groups

Meta is conducting tests on a new feature called Threads Friends, designed to allow users to privately share posts with a select group of followers. This feature is currently being piloted in Ireland, Italy, and Japan. Threads Friends operates as a "close friends" list for Threads, enabling users to share content with up to 50 of their followers, known as "Thriends" within the app.

This functionality bears a striking resemblance to Twitter's Circles, which allowed users to limit posts to groups of up to 150 followers before the feature was discontinued in 2023. Meta appears to be assisting users in creating their initial friends list, suggesting frequently engaged followers, though the list can be customized.

Once set up, users can view the posts from their friends in the last 24 hours by tapping a green bubble at the top of their feed. The company has not released detailed visual information about the feature, but Laura Javier, product design director for Threads, provided a brief preview of how a friends-only post will appear. She also revealed an Easter egg feature that changes "Threads Friends" to "Thriends."

It remains unclear when Meta plans to roll out the feature to other regions, but US users currently remain without access. However, if a US user is added to someone's friends list in one of the test countries, they may view that person's friends-only posts.