Long texts on short message service: Text attachment as new function on threads
Because screenshots of longer texts are regularly shared on threads, Meta has added a function: Now you can write up to 10,000 characters in the attachment.
(Image: Meta)
Meta's Threads short messaging service now also allows users to share longer texts that can be attached to a post. The US company made this public in a blog post, and the function is already available in Germany. Instead of just 500 characters as before, you now have up to 10,000 characters to express yourself. In principle, this was also possible until now, but you had to link several posts together – in a so-called "thread". With this step, Threads is now following the example of X, where this has been possible for some time, but only with a paid account. In the so-called Fediverse, which includes Mastodon, there are services that also allow long posts.
Away from short messages
Meta now justifies the inclusion of the new function with the observation that many people share screenshots of longer texts on threads, for example from books, articles, newsletters or transcripts. Sometimes 500 characters are apparently not enough. As a text attachment, such content could now be read directly in threads "to express more complex perspectives, draw the audience in or promote your work". For the latter, links to the book or website could be shared in the post itself to direct people there. Text attachments – that can also be formatted – are part of an ongoing effort to make it more convenient for active thread participants, Meta adds.
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When Twitter popularized the short messaging service concept, it was limited to 140 characters in posts. This value was originally set by SMS messages, which could also be used to post. In 2017, Twitter then doubled the maximum number of characters, which was the most radical change to the concept since it was launched in 2006. Following the takeover by Elon Musk , the service has largely abandoned this; those who pay for the service, which has since been renamed X, can currently pack up to 25,000 characters into a post. Threads is now following suit, even if the embedding as an attachment looks different. The competition at Bluesky (maximum 300 characters) and Mastodon (maximum 500 characters) is still limited to relatively short posts.
(mho)
