Threads is currently running a test that gives the traditional like button a personal touch. Participants in this trial can attach a custom emoji, sticker, or GIF to their profile, and that specific reaction appears whenever they tap like on any post on the platform. At the moment, the trial is active in South Korea, Brazil, and Indonesia.
Connor Hayes, the chief of Threads, acknowledged the trial and described it as part of a broader drive toward expression, though he has not provided a release date for a worldwide rollout. People outside these three regions must wait, and the test indicates that Meta is currently looking at ways to differentiate Threads from Instagram and X.
This personalized like connects to the user instead of the individual post, unlike reaction features on Instagram or Facebook. When a user selects a reaction, that identical animation displays on every like throughout their activity. Individuals cannot switch between various reactions for different posts because the selection happens at the profile level instead of the post level.
Brands and creators gain a fresh dimension of identity through this option. A clothing brand might attach a seasonal GIF during a product release, and a comedian could select an animated sticker matching their persona. This might also increase engagement since users could tap like more frequently just to view selections made by others.
This development arrives as Threads introduces new capabilities to stay ahead of competitors like Bluesky and X. Meta has already introduced custom feeds and communities during the year, adding this reaction tool to the collection as the service gradually develops into a complete social network instead of a basic text application.
Meta has not yet shared when this feature reaches other markets.
