Deleting Threads Account Requires Instagram Account Deletion
Threads, Meta’s text-based conversation app, amasses 10 million sign-ups in 7 hours. Co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared this mind-boggling statistic, indicating the new service’s tremendous appeal and rapid adoption. The catch, however, lies in the app’s intriguing stipulation. To delete a Threads account, users must delete their linked Instagram account. This unexpected requirement has surprised and prompted discussions among users.
Meta, in its Supplemental Privacy Policy, explained the rationale behind this policy. According to the company, a Threads profile is integral to the user’s Instagram account. As a result, deleting the Threads profile necessitates deleting the entire linked Instagram account. This clarification has left many users surprised and has prompted further exploration of the implications of this policy.
Threads, a text-based conversation app often hailed as a high-profile alternative to Twitter, aims to revolutionize public conversations. On Wednesday, the app launched globally, reaching users in over 100 countries and leveraging Instagram’s massive 2+ billion user base. It has quickly gained popularity and is emerging as the most desirable Twitter rival thus far.
In a recent Threads post, Mark Zuckerberg expressed his vision for the app: “I think there should be a public conversations app with one billion+ people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn’t nailed it. Hopefully, we will.” Zuckerberg’s ambitious goal resonated with users, contributing to the overwhelming sign-up numbers the app experienced within its first few hours.
Aside from individual users, numerous brands, including Netflix, Amazon, NFL, and Pepsi, have supported Threads by signing up for the app. However, the absence of significant names like Google, Apple, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Disney has raised questions and piqued curiosity within the industry.
In response to user feedback regarding the account deletion policy, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, provided clarification. Mosseri clarified that users can deactivate Threads, hide their profile, set it to private, or delete individual thread posts without deleting their Instagram account. Threads and Instagram are considered one account, so deleting one results in deleting the other. However, Mosseri assured users that the company is actively exploring options to enable separate deletion of Threads accounts.
Instagram's head clarifies the controversy surrounding the deletion of Thread accounts: pic.twitter.com/EeyxsayDwB
— ㆅ (@howfxr) July 6, 2023
As Threads continues to gain momentum and attract millions of users, Meta’s commitment to addressing user concerns and improving the app’s functionality will be closely watched.
