Introduction
Maybe every time you post to Threads the trolls come out of the woodwork and fill up your comments, making a thoughtful conversation impossible. Or, maybe you know something you want to post is going to be divisive among your followers, and you don’t want a heated discussion to break out in the comments section. No matter the reason, you can easily control who can reply to your Threads posts, or replies you leave on other people’s Threads posts. To be clear, you can’t completely disable comments, but you can limit people who can comment to either your followers or people you mention in your post. Also, there is no global setting you can change to adjust who can comment on all of your posts, and you’ll have to adjust these controls for each post individually.
Some of the images associated with the steps are included inline below. All images associated with these steps can be seen in the embedded YouTube video. Also, please note that you’re not able to leave a comment directly on this article. If you have a question or feedback, please leave it on the YouTube video.
Steps to Control Who Can Comment on a New Post on Threads
- Launch the Threads app. You’ll land on your Threads home screen.
- Tap the “New Thread” icon in the menu at the bottom of the screen. The New Thread screen opens.
By default you’ll see the text “Anyone Can Reply” in the lower left corner of this message, indicating that anyone can reply to this thread.
- Tap “Anyone Can Reply.” A menu opens where you’ll see additional options to limit who can reply to this thread to either profiles you follow or profiles you mention.
- In this example I’ll choose to limit who can reply to my thread to profiles I mention. You’ll see the text in the lower-left corner of the message change to reflect who can reply to your thread.
Steps to Control Who Can Comment on an Existing Threads Post
- Launch the Meta Threads app and then tap the “Profile” icon in the menu along the bottom of the screen. You’ll land on your Meta Threads profile screen.
- Choose either Threads or Replies at the top of this screen, depending on whether you want to restrict who can comment on one of your posts, or you want to restrict who can comment on a reply you made to someone else’s post. In either case, the process is the same. In this example, I’ll choose “Threads.”
- Find the thread or reply you want to control who can comment on, and then tap the ellipses next to that item. A menu opens up at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap “Who Can Reply” in this menu. A Who Can Reply menu is shown.
- If you want anyone to be able to reply, leave “Anyone” selected. Choose “Profiles You Follow” if you only want profiles that you follow to be able to reply to this item. And finally, choose “Mentioned Only” if you only want someone who was mentioned in your Threads post to be able to reply to it. Again, you can’t disable all comments on a Threads post, and the closest you can get to that is setting it up so that only people mentioned in your post or comment can reply. Your changes will be applied automatically.
Reasons to Limit Who Can Comment On Your Threads Post
1. Preventing Harassment
Harassment has become a widespread problem on social media platforms. Threads users often face bullying or aggressive comments. By limiting who can comment, users protect themselves. They create a safer digital space, limiting potential harassers from intruding. This decision often contributes to an improved social media experience.
2. Privacy
Not all information shared on Threads is for the public eye. Some posts delve into personal experiences or emotions. Limiting comments guards these sensitive posts. It gives users control over their personal narratives and ensures unwanted intrusions remain at bay.
3. Managing the Narrative
Posts on social media platforms like Threads can ignite diverse perspectives. When a user wants to steer the conversation, they may limit comments. This prevents the narrative from being hijacked or deviating from the intended discourse.
4. Avoiding Trolling
Trolls disrupt productive conversations with their irrelevant comments. They intend to provoke, cause discord, or mock. By limiting who can comment, users insulate themselves from these nonconstructive distractions.
5. Reducing Noise
Engagement on Threads can be overwhelming. A flood of comments can distract from the original post’s intent. When users limit comments, they curtail this noise. They maintain focus on the essential conversation, enhancing the quality of discourse.
6. Controlling Spam
Spam often clutters social media feeds. It includes promotional messages, repeated posts, or irrelevant content. Limiting comments helps users combat this menace. They ensure their posts stay spam-free and maintain the content’s integrity.
7. Safety
Safety concerns prompt users to limit Threads comments. Those discussing controversial topics, or who have been threatened, seek to protect themselves. By regulating who can engage, they create a buffer against potential threats.
8. Professionalism
Professional accounts prioritize maintaining a respectful environment. They limit comments to ensure responses stay professional. This strategy aids in maintaining a clean, focused, and professional image, key for businesses or personal brands.
9. Avoiding Misinformation
Misinformation spreads quickly on social media. Controversial topics are often rife with false claims. By limiting comments, users curtail the spread of such information on their posts. This promotes accurate and reliable discourse.
10. Mental Health
Social media can be taxing on mental health. Negative comments or a deluge of responses can cause stress. By limiting interactions, users manage their mental wellbeing. They create a healthier digital environment, fostering positivity and peace.
