Threads is taking another step toward becoming a destination for focused, interest-driven discussion rather than just a scrolling feed.
When Communities first rolled out in October, they covered broad themes such as basketball, television, K-pop, and books. Meta has expanded its Communities feature to include more than 200 topic spaces, up from just over 100 at launch, signaling a clear commitment to structured conversations built around shared interests.
The latest expansion widens that scope significantly, adding more niche and identity-based spaces, including team-specific hubs like Lakers Threads, Knicks Threads, and Spurs Threads.
These dedicated areas give fans a place to talk games, trade reactions, and share highlights without their posts getting lost in the wider timeline, making Threads feel more like a collection of living conversation rooms than a single global feed.
Alongside the growth in communities, Meta is testing new engagement tools designed to make participation more meaningful.
One of these is customizable user flair: short labels displayed beneath usernames within a community that signal identity, affiliation, or expertise.
A basketball fan can show which team they support, while someone in the books community might identify as an author, reviewer, or genre enthusiast.
These small markers add context to discussions and make interactions feel more personal and credible.
Threads is also experimenting with a new 'Champion' badge that highlights highly engaged contributors.
During this testing phase, the badge is limited to a small group of users who are both actively participating in conversations and widely followed within their communities. The idea is to surface trusted, energetic voices who help keep discussions moving.
This is a familiar concept for anyone who has spent time on platforms like Reddit, Discord, or Stack Overflow.
Together, these features point to a broader shift in how Threads wants to be used. Rather than relying solely on algorithmic recommendations or chronological feeds, the app is leaning into identity and belonging.
Communities give users a reason to return regularly, flair helps them express who they are within a group, and badges provide visible recognition for contribution, not just follower count.
This strategy also has implications for creators and influencers.
Active participation within relevant communities offers a new path to visibility, allowing creators to build credibility where their audience already gathers instead of competing for attention in a crowded global feed. For Meta, it’s a playbook aimed squarely at retention — encouraging daily habits and deeper engagement as Threads matures.
With more than 400 million total users and over 150 million daily visitors, Threads is no longer just an experiment.
The expansion of communities, combined with badges and flair, shows Meta positioning the app as a serious alternative to platforms like X and Reddit for topic-based conversation.
If these tests prove successful, future updates could bring ranking tools, stronger moderation systems, and more ways to surface the most relevant posts, all reinforcing the idea that Threads is becoming a place not just to post, but to belong.