Earlier this week, Instagram Threads rolled out a highly requested feature: direct messages (DMs). However, the response hasn’t been all positive, with some users, especially women, expressing concerns about harassment and the lack of an opt-out option.
Backlash Over DMs
While DMs are common in other social networks like X, Bluesky, and Mastodon, some Threads users preferred the absence of this feature. Comments like “I don’t want to receive DM’s. How do I shut this thing off? I ask on behalf of all women,” and “Great. More ways for women to get harassed online,” flooded the platform.
User Reactions
Many users voiced their disapproval of DMs, stating that nobody asked for this and expressing a preference for a feature to disable it, which currently doesn’t exist.
Concerns and Criticisms
Aside from harassment concerns, users worry about an influx of bots, spam, and unwanted messages in their inboxes. The current system requires users to follow each other to enable DMs, making it necessary to unfollow or block someone to prevent them from messaging you.
As the platform evolves, the addition of new features can disrupt the existing culture, leaving some users feeling powerless and frustrated. The lack of control over the DM feature and the inability to opt-out contribute to users’ dissatisfaction with the changes.
