PostEaseThe short answer
A ghost post is a Threads post that disappears from view after a day. Instagram’s Help Center, which covers Threads, defines it as “a post on Threads that is archived after 24 hours.” Ghost posts are text-only.
Meta launched them on October 27, 2025, as posts for “unfiltered thoughts and fresh takes without the pressure of permanence or polish.” At launch, replies went to the poster’s messaging inbox and only the poster could see who liked and replied.
How to share one
Ghost posts are made in the Threads app for iPhone and Android; Instagram’s Help Center says the feature is not available on computers. Tap New post, then tap and hold the ghost post icon in the bottom right to make the current post a ghost post. Enter your text, choose where replies go, and tap Post.
The reply choice is Get replies as messages or See replies on post, and the Help Center notes it cannot be edited once the ghost post is shared. That is a change since launch, when Meta described replies going to your inbox only.
Ghost posts at a glance
From Instagram’s Help Center and Meta’s launch post:
| Question | Ghost post |
|---|---|
| How long it shows | 24 hours, then archived |
| Format | Text only |
| Replies | As messages to you, or on the post, chosen before sharing and fixed after |
| Who sees likes and replies | Only you, as Meta described it at launch |
| Shared to the fediverse | Never, even if you have turned on fediverse sharing |
| Where to find it | Your profile, and a Ghost posts feed under Menu |
What happens after 24 hours
Archiving is one-way. Instagram’s Help Center lists what remains:
| Question | What happens |
|---|---|
| Can it come back? | No: you cannot unarchive a ghost post, but you can delete it |
| Where does it stop showing? | In feed, on your profile, and as previews in chats |
| Can you still read replies? | Yes, you can still view replies after it is archived |
| Deleted before 24 hours? | It is not saved to your archive |
| Likes from others | A liked ghost post does not stay in the liker’s Your likes after it expires |
Where ghost posts fit
Meta placed ghost posts beside other recent Threads tools in its launch post: text attachments of up to 10,000 characters for longer thoughts, and the option to hide spoilers in media or text. Ghost posts sit at the other end, short and temporary.
For a creator, they work like an Instagram story in text form:
- Test a take or an opinion before turning it into a lasting post.
- Ask a question with replies set to messages, so answers come privately.
- Share a live reaction to an event that will not matter tomorrow.
Planning around them
Ghost posts are made by hand in the Threads app, and they are gone from feeds a day later, so they suit the moment rather than the plan. PostEase plans the lasting Threads posts beside every other platform on one calendar. YouTube, X, LinkedIn (personal profile), Pinterest, Bluesky, and WordPress publishing are live today; Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Threads are pending each platform's own API approval.
Questions
How long does a Threads ghost post last?
24 hours. After that it is archived and no longer appears in feed, on your profile, or as previews in chats.
Can I add photos to a ghost post?
No. Instagram’s Help Center says ghost posts are text-only.
Who sees replies to a ghost post?
You choose before posting: replies as messages, which only you can see, or replies on the post. The choice cannot be changed after sharing.
Can I make a ghost post on a computer?
No. Instagram’s Help Center says the feature is available in the Threads app on iPhone and Android, not on computers.
Sources
- Instagram, Share a ghost post on Threads, checked October 2026.
- Meta, Introducing Disappearing Posts on Threads, October 2025.