Currently, replies in threads (both in channels and direct messages) are only visible in the “Replies” section and do not consistently affect chat visibility or unread indicators in the main “Chat” list. This creates a fragmented and confusing experience when trying to follow ongoing conversations.

Key issues:

When I receive a reply in a thread within a channel, the channel does not move to the top of the Chat list. Chats are only surfaced when someone starts a new top-level message or sends a new DM. As a result, active discussions happening inside threads are easy to miss unless the user actively checks the Replies tab.

Replies added to existing threads do not trigger any unread indicator (badge/counter) on the corresponding channel or direct message in Chat list. The red dot appears only for new top-level messages, not for thread replies. This makes it unclear where new activity has occurred and causes important replies to be overlooked. Also, as a result, active discussions happening inside threads are easy to miss unless the user actively checks the Replies tab.

Requested improvement:

Thread replies should be treated as first-class chat activity:

This would significantly improve conversation tracking, reduce missed replies, and make the Chat experience more intuitive, especially for teams that rely on threads for async communication.