Instagram’s parent company Facebook is hard at work in developing a messaging app to rival Snapchat. ‘Threads’ is a complimentary app that matches Instagram meant for sharing messages and content amongst ‘close friends’.

With the new messaging app, users will be able to automatically share their information with their existing close friends list on IG. Location, speed, battery life along with the usual photo, video, and text are featured for sharing. The Verge reports that Threads is currently being tested amongst Facebook employees.

Since 2017, Instagram has made attempts to develop a similar app called ‘Direct’ but the project was officially dropped in May. Execs from the photo-sharing app cited the reason for the project’s failure as frustration between trial users about having to switch between apps to receive and send messages.

Now, developers from Instagram for messaging have joined forces with the Facebook Messenger team to develop new projects.

The Verge reports that Threads is designed to compete against Snapchat, a multimedia messaging app that’s overtaking Instagram in rates of user engagement within the app. A majority of Snaphat’s users are reportedly members of the youth, a waterloo of Facebook and Instagram that they need strengthening. Threads might just be what the two social media platforms need to increase their appeal among younger users.

Threads users who choose automatic sharing will be able to give their close friends real-time view of their location, speed as well as regularly updating their status. A great way to know if your friend is actually on the way when they message “OTW”.