Threads may be making its like button a little more expressive. The platform is reportedly testing an option that lets users attach an emoji, sticker or GIF to the like button shown on their posts.
The test is currently deployed to select users in South Korea, Brazil and Indonesia. Threads chief Connor Hayes reportedly confirmed that the option is being tested.
The like button becomes part of the profile
The important limitation is that the custom graphic is linked to a user’s profile, not to each individual post. That means someone can choose a seasonal animation, a favorite sticker or a branded visual, but cannot create a different reaction for every update.
When another user taps like, the selected graphic appears instead of a standard, anonymous interaction. It gives the act of liking a small identity layer. The gesture still does the same work, but it now tells other people something about the person receiving the engagement.
That makes this more than a cosmetic control. Threads is testing whether a familiar interaction can become a reason to look around the platform. Users may tap like not only to support a post, but also to see how someone has customized the response attached to their profile.
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A small feature with creator and brand potential
For creators, the option could become another piece of profile expression. A recurring visual could support a persona, a community joke or a seasonal moment without requiring a new post. For brands, it creates a possible way to align a profile-level interaction with a product launch, event or campaign identity.
That opportunity is still hypothetical. The test is limited, and the reported feature does not appear to offer post-by-post customization. It may also be too subtle to change behavior at scale. But the direction is clear: Threads is looking for more ways to make participation visible, personal and worth exploring.
The strategic consequence is that engagement mechanics are becoming part of a user’s identity. If Threads expands the test, the like button may become less of a passive signal and more of a small piece of profile media.