Threads adds “Ghost Posts”: ephemeral posts that disappear after 24 hours
Meta’s Threads is rolling out a new feature called “Ghost Posts” that automatically removes shared content after 24 hours. The idea is to let users post casually — without creating a permanent entry on their profile — similar to Stories on other platforms.
Ghost Posts are visible to followers (subject to your privacy settings) but vanish a day after publishing. This gives people a way to share fleeting moments, limited-time updates or playful content without worrying about long-term curation.
How it compares
- Like Stories: Functionally similar to ephemeral features on Instagram and Snapchat, but integrated into Threads’ conversational feed.
- Not archived by default: Content disappears after 24 hours, reducing permanent footprint — though platform policies and screenshots may still affect privacy.
- Use cases: Casual updates, event highlights, time-limited promotions, or posts you don’t want saved forever.
What it means for users and creators
For everyday users, Ghost Posts lower the barrier to sharing and can encourage more spontaneous interaction. Creators and brands may use them for limited-time promotions or behind-the-scenes content, but they’ll lose the discoverability and permanence of regular posts unless they repurpose content elsewhere.
It’s also worth noting the privacy caveat: ephemeral content can still be captured (screenshots, downloads) and platform moderation and data policies may retain copies for safety and policy enforcement.
Practical tips
- Use Ghost Posts for low-stakes updates or time-sensitive announcements.
- Don’t share sensitive personal data in ephemeral posts — they can still be saved by others.
- Creators who want longer‑term reach should republish key content to permanent posts or other channels.
For more on Threads and features, visit the Threads site: threads.net.
Discussion: Would you use Ghost Posts on Threads for casual sharing — or do you prefer permanent posts for discoverability and record‑keeping?