Kakao is planning to revamp one of KakaoTalk's core features, the 'Reply' feature. Instead of the current system of replying to a single message one by one, Kakao will most likely introduce a "thread" structure, where multiple conversations revolve around a single message.
Kakao is currently working on an update that will overhaul KakaoTalk's message reply feature, according to IT industry reports. The original reply feature, which was introduced in 2018, allows users to reply directly to a message by long-pressing on the bottom of the message, which is useful for responding to past messages or clarifying something in a fast-paced group chat.
This overhaul, however, takes this structure and turns it on its head. Threads are a hierarchy of replies centered around a single message, allowing you to see related conversations at a glance. It's a structure that's already common in international messengers like Slack and Discord.
With threads, when you select a specific message and hit "Start thread" or "Reply to thread," a separate window will open, organizing the conversation around that topic. Then, when you're done talking, you'll return to the original chat room. We expect this to be a great way to organize conversations in group chat rooms by clearly separating them by topic.
However, there are concerns about the possibility that the existing reply feature will disappear completely. There have been reports from within Kakao that users who are used to the old feature may experience inconvenience after the reorganization. Despite the fact that the thread feature can be introduced and the existing reply feature can be operated in parallel, there are also questions about whether the decision to remove the reply feature is driven by the strategic objective of increasing dwell time.
In response, a Kakao representative said, "We are preparing a reorganization in the direction of expanding and diversifying functions to reflect various user demands," and that "the specific reorganization will be unveiled at the developer conference 'if(kakao) 25' on the 23rd of this month."
With a virtual monopoly in the Korean messenger market, any major feature change to KakaoTalk is bound to have a direct impact on a large number of users. Whether the new threading method is seen as an improvement that enhances the user experience or an inconvenience that takes away a familiar feature will depend on user reaction after the final announcement.
