Threads confirmed a test of Threads Friends on October 29, 2026, allowing users to share selected posts with groups of up to 50 people. The experiment is currently limited to Ireland, Italy and Japan. It resembles Instagram's Close Friends feature, but Meta has not announced a worldwide release or a timetable for expansion.

According to Social Media Today, users can build a list and restrict individual posts to those contacts. Members see a Threads Friends label and can see the usernames of other members who like or reply to a friends-only post. The content is therefore limited in distribution, but interactions within the group are not invisible to its other members.

Engadget reports that Threads suggests people with whom the account frequently interacts when creating an initial list. Users can edit the suggestions. A dedicated view lets them browse friends-only posts shared during the previous 24 hours. People outside the three test countries may still be added to a list by someone who has access to the feature.

For publishers, creators and brands, the test suggests a possible format for maintaining small, engaged communities: sharing early updates, soliciting feedback or discussing ideas with regular followers. That is a potential editorial use, not a new paid advertising product. Meta has not announced Threads Friends ad inventory, targeting controls or dedicated advertising measurement.

The reach trade-off matters. A post limited to 50 selected contacts is unsuitable as a substitute for public discovery content. Teams seeking follower growth should continue to evaluate open posts separately from any private-group experiment. Community managers also need to explain that reactions and replies can be visible to others on the list.

Because the rollout is restricted and no expansion date has been published, international campaigns should not assume Threads Friends will be available in all accounts. Any tests should distinguish community engagement from paid media outcomes.

Sources

Social Media Today — test report, 29 October 2026

Engadget — independent reporting and Meta comment, 29 October 2026

Threads confirmed a test of Threads Friends on October 29, 2026, allowing users to share selected posts with groups of up to 50 people. The experiment is currently limited to Ireland, Italy and Japan. It resembles Instagram's Close Friends feature, but Meta has not announced a worldwide release or a timetable for expansion.

According to Social Media Today, users can build a list and restrict individual posts to those contacts. Members see a Threads Friends label and can see the usernames of other members who like or reply to a friends-only post. The content is therefore limited in distribution, but interactions within the group are not invisible to its other members.

Engadget reports that Threads suggests people with whom the account frequently interacts when creating an initial list. Users can edit the suggestions. A dedicated view lets them browse friends-only posts shared during the previous 24 hours. People outside the three test countries may still be added to a list by someone who has access to the feature.

For publishers, creators and brands, the test suggests a possible format for maintaining small, engaged communities: sharing early updates, soliciting feedback or discussing ideas with regular followers. That is a potential editorial use, not a new paid advertising product. Meta has not announced Threads Friends ad inventory, targeting controls or dedicated advertising measurement.

The reach trade-off matters. A post limited to 50 selected contacts is unsuitable as a substitute for public discovery content. Teams seeking follower growth should continue to evaluate open posts separately from any private-group experiment. Community managers also need to explain that reactions and replies can be visible to others on the list.

Because the rollout is restricted and no expansion date has been published, international campaigns should not assume Threads Friends will be available in all accounts. Any tests should distinguish community engagement from paid media outcomes.

Sources

Social Media Today — test report, 29 October 2026

Engadget — independent reporting and Meta comment, 29 October 2026

Threads confirmed a test of Threads Friends on October 29, 2026, allowing users to share selected posts with groups of up to 50 people. The experiment is currently limited to Ireland, Italy and Japan. It resembles Instagram's Close Friends feature, but Meta has not announced a worldwide release or a timetable for expansion.

According to Social Media Today, users can build a list and restrict individual posts to those contacts. Members see a Threads Friends label and can see the usernames of other members who like or reply to a friends-only post. The content is therefore limited in distribution, but interactions within the group are not invisible to its other members.

Engadget reports that Threads suggests people with whom the account frequently interacts when creating an initial list. Users can edit the suggestions. A dedicated view lets them browse friends-only posts shared during the previous 24 hours. People outside the three test countries may still be added to a list by someone who has access to the feature.

For publishers, creators and brands, the test suggests a possible format for maintaining small, engaged communities: sharing early updates, soliciting feedback or discussing ideas with regular followers. That is a potential editorial use, not a new paid advertising product. Meta has not announced Threads Friends ad inventory, targeting controls or dedicated advertising measurement.

The reach trade-off matters. A post limited to 50 selected contacts is unsuitable as a substitute for public discovery content. Teams seeking follower growth should continue to evaluate open posts separately from any private-group experiment. Community managers also need to explain that reactions and replies can be visible to others on the list.

Because the rollout is restricted and no expansion date has been published, international campaigns should not assume Threads Friends will be available in all accounts. Any tests should distinguish community engagement from paid media outcomes.

Sources

Social Media Today — test report, 29 October 2026

Engadget — independent reporting and Meta comment, 29 October 2026

Threads confirmed a test of Threads Friends on October 29, 2026, allowing users to share selected posts with groups of up to 50 people. The experiment is currently limited to Ireland, Italy and Japan. It resembles Instagram's Close Friends feature, but Meta has not announced a worldwide release or a timetable for expansion.

According to Social Media Today, users can build a list and restrict individual posts to those contacts. Members see a Threads Friends label and can see the usernames of other members who like or reply to a friends-only post. The content is therefore limited in distribution, but interactions within the group are not invisible to its other members.

Engadget reports that Threads suggests people with whom the account frequently interacts when creating an initial list. Users can edit the suggestions. A dedicated view lets them browse friends-only posts shared during the previous 24 hours. People outside the three test countries may still be added to a list by someone who has access to the feature.

For publishers, creators and brands, the test suggests a possible format for maintaining small, engaged communities: sharing early updates, soliciting feedback or discussing ideas with regular followers. That is a potential editorial use, not a new paid advertising product. Meta has not announced Threads Friends ad inventory, targeting controls or dedicated advertising measurement.

The reach trade-off matters. A post limited to 50 selected contacts is unsuitable as a substitute for public discovery content. Teams seeking follower growth should continue to evaluate open posts separately from any private-group experiment. Community managers also need to explain that reactions and replies can be visible to others on the list.

Because the rollout is restricted and no expansion date has been published, international campaigns should not assume Threads Friends will be available in all accounts. Any tests should distinguish community engagement from paid media outcomes.

Sources

Social Media Today — test report, 29 October 2026

Engadget — independent reporting and Meta comment, 29 October 2026