Threads Rolls Out 100+ Topic Communities to Rival X and Reddit

Threads is taking a big step forward with the launch of Communities, a new feature designed to make the app feel more organized and engaging. The feature, now in worldwide beta, combines topic tags and custom feeds to give people dedicated spaces to talk about what they love. More than 100 Communities are already available, covering everything from basketball and K-pop to AI, books, fashion, and TV.

Threads Turns Topic Tags Into Public Communities

If you’ve used topic tags on Threads, Communities will feel familiar. They’re essentially public, casual spaces where users can join ongoing conversations about specific interests. You can find them by searching directly, spotting blue topic tags in your feed, or tapping on a post with a three-dot topic tag. Once you join, a Community is pinned in your feeds menu and tagged on your profile, making your memberships visible to others.

Meta says this is a natural evolution of how users were already organizing themselves with labels like “Book Threads” or “TV Threads.” Now, the platform is formalizing those spaces into something that feels closer to Reddit groups or Discord servers, complete with moderation tools and threaded discussions.

Every Community Gets Its Own Custom Like Emoji

One unique detail is that every Community gets its own custom Like emoji. For example, Book Threads uses a stack of books as its emoji, while other Communities have icons tied to their themes. Meta says these symbols are designed to give members a stronger sense of belonging and identity within their groups.

Meta Puts Creators At The Center Of Communities

Threads’ new lead, Connor Hayes, marked the launch by joining NBA, NFL, and TV Threads himself. Industry watchers note that Meta is also inviting prominent creators, especially those with large Instagram followings, to spearhead Communities. This could give the feature momentum while offering creators more tools for visibility and brand deals.

With Threads now surpassing 400 million monthly active users, Communities could become a cornerstone of its growth strategy. Analysts point out that this move positions Threads against rivals like X (formerly Twitter), while borrowing elements that have worked well on Reddit and Discord. Communities also tie into Threads’ integration with the Fediverse via ActivityPub, meaning discussions could eventually extend beyond Meta’s ecosystem.

Communities Roadmap Includes Badges And Ranking Updates

Communities are still in beta, but Meta has a roadmap. Soon, standout Community builders will receive special profile badges as recognition. The company is also expanding post ranking features, ensuring the most relevant discussions appear not just inside Communities but also in the For You feed. Looking further ahead, brands and creators may see monetization opportunities through sponsored or premium groups.

The success of Communities will depend on how well Meta can balance openness with moderation, keeping spaces free from spam and toxicity while encouraging authentic conversations. If it works, this could be the feature that helps Threads feel less like a Twitter alternative and more like its own thriving ecosystem.