App researcher Radu Oncescu first discovered the feature and shared a screenshot showing how it works. When used, the long-form content appears as a gray box snippet within a post. Viewers can click on it to expand and read the full content in a scrollable format — a major shift from traditional Threads posting.
According to Meta’s in-app description, the feature is designed to help users “attach longer text and get creative with styling tools to share deeper thoughts, news snippets, book excerpts, and more.” Unlike the current character-limited format, this removes the need for workarounds like screenshots from Notes apps.
A New Tool for Writers, Creators, and Thought Leaders
The long-form post option could be particularly appealing to writers, journalists, and content creators who want broader distribution for their articles, newsletters, or blog-style content — potentially positioning Threads as a lightweight alternative to platforms like Substack or Medium.
User Robert P. Nickson has already tested the feature publicly, showcasing its clean and minimal UI.
Threads vs. X (Formerly Twitter): A Growing Rivalry
This move comes as Threads continues to compete with X (formerly Twitter), which already offers long-form publishing via its Articles feature — though it’s currently locked behind a Premium subscription. Threads’ long-form feature, on the other hand, is accessible to all users (for now), making it more inclusive.
However, there are limitations. Unlike X, which supports multimedia integration in long-form posts, Threads’ current version is text-only. Meta may expand the feature in the future to include images, videos, or embeds, depending on user feedback and platform direction.
Threads' Rapid Growth and Feature Expansion
This latest update follows a wave of feature rollouts on Threads over the past year, including direct messages (DMs), fediverse support, customizable feeds, and AI enhancements.
With over 400 million monthly active users, Threads continues to grow rapidly — closing in on X’s reported 600+ million users. Meta has confirmed that broader rollout of long-form posts is on the roadmap.