Threads has introduced a new feature that improves the experience of watching live events. Communities on Threads are referred to as “public, casual spaces where you can share distinctive viewpoints and engage in discussions about subjects such as basketball, TV, and more,” as stated in a blog post by the social media platform. At present, Threads is globally testing communities with trending interests like the NBA, WNBA, TV Threads, and KPOP Threads. To become a part of a community, look for it in the upper right corner. If it is indeed a community, you can join by selecting “Join” located in the upper right corner, marked by a three-dot icon on a topic tag. To see your joined communities, click the hamburger menu in the top left of the app, and they will be included in your feeds.

Every community features its own unique Like emoji. For instance, liking a post in the Book Threads community reveals a stack of books; WNBA Threads shows a basketball; AI features a lightbulb; KPop employs a hand heart emoji. At present, you must join the Threads community to view the custom emoji. Not all interests currently have communities, but Threads mentioned there are “already over 100 to discover, with more on the way.” Notable community contributors—users who are extremely active and engaged—will be awarded special badges. The platform is also “developing ranking within communities and the For You feed to prioritize the most relevant posts.”

This update was eagerly awaited as Social Media Today reported that some Threads users were invited to test the feature in beta prior to its official launch. Users like @rayofsuunshine and David Rushing, known as @yorush, were among those selected. Rushing shared his excitement for Communities on Threads, highlighting that “posts in the community feed remain on topic,” which makes it easier to locate relevant posts during live events such as primetime NBA games. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram and advocate of Threads, recognized that there’s “still a lot to accomplish” but expressed enthusiasm about communities on Threads.