Meta’s Threads has a major drawback for users who want to quit the platform: you can’t delete your Threads profile without deleting your Instagram account as well.
The Twitter rival, which launched on Wednesday, uses Instagram’s account system to let users bring over their usernames and followers from the photo-sharing app. However, this also means that the two apps are tightly linked, and there is no way to separate them.
This is clearly stated in Meta’s supplemental privacy policy for Threads, which many users may have overlooked when signing up for the app. “Your Threads profile is part of your Instagram account, and may be deleted at any time by deleting your Instagram account,” the policy reads.
This can be a deal-breaker for users who have been using Instagram for years and don’t want to lose their photos, videos, stories, reels, and other content. It can also be a hassle for users who want to switch to a different username on Threads, as they would have to create a new Instagram account as well.
Meta is aware of this issue and is looking into a solution. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, posted on Threads that the company is “exploring” a way to let users delete their Threads profile without affecting their Instagram account. However, he did not give a timeline for when this feature might be available.
In the meantime, users who want to hide their Threads profile and content have a few options. They can deactivate their Threads account, which will make their profile, threads, replies, and likes invisible to others. However, this is only a temporary measure, as their account will be reactivated if they log back in.
They can also delete individual posts or set their account to private, which will limit who can see their content. However, these options do not remove their data from Meta’s servers or free up their username for others to use.
Threads is Meta’s latest attempt to challenge Twitter’s dominance in the microblogging space. The app promises to offer users a new way to express themselves and connect with others through short text posts.
However, the app is still in its early stages and lacks many features that Twitter users are accustomed to, such as direct messages, hashtags, following feeds, and an edit button. It remains to be seen how many users will stick around or switch back to Twitter once the hype ends.
