Meta adds live chat to Threads for NBA playoffs

At a glance:

• Live Chats debut on Threads during the NBA Playoffs, enabling real‑time conversation around games.
• Hosts include personalities such as Malika Andrews, Rachel Nichols, Trysta Krick, David Rushing, and Lexis Mickens.
• Up to 150 participants can join, with features like countdowns, polls, live scores, and future co‑hosting and widgets.

How live chats appear

Live Chats show up at the top of the NBAThreads Community, making them easy to spot during the playoffs. They can also surface in your regular Threads feed if you follow a host who has posted the chat link. A red circle appears on the host’s profile photo when a chat is live, signaling that the conversation is active.

Anyone can enter a Live Chat, but the host can limit participation to a maximum of 150 people, after which no new users are accepted. Even after the limit is reached, spectators can still view the ongoing discussion. When the chat ends, it is removed from the pinned position but remains accessible through any posts that were shared earlier.

Joining and interacting

Once inside a Live Chat, you can send text messages, attach photos, videos, or links, and react with emoji to show support. The interface mirrors standard Threads messaging, preserving the familiar layout while adding real‑time elements. Reactions and quick replies keep the conversation lively without requiring a separate app.

The chat supports live score updates, countdown timers, and poll widgets that are generated automatically as the game progresses. These tools are designed to keep fans engaged and to turn the viewing experience into an interactive community event. Hosts can also moderate the discussion, pin important messages, and guide the flow of commentary.

Scheduling and future expansion

Hosts schedule a Live Chat by tapping the three‑dot menu in the top‑right corner and selecting Schedule a Live Chat. They can name the event, set a start and end time, and share the link via their feed or Instagram Story. Only a select group of creators, including Community Champions, are permitted to host these chats.

Meta plans to expand the feature with co‑hosting capabilities, play‑by‑play commentary, lock‑screen widgets, and a quoting function that lets users repost chat excerpts directly to their Threads feed. These upcoming tools aim to deepen engagement and broaden the scope beyond sports events to other cultural moments.