Threads allows easy deletion without impacting Instagram

WEB DESK: Instagram users can now breathe a sigh of relief as Meta’s social network, Threads, introduces an eagerly awaited option allowing users to delete their Threads account without impacting their Instagram profile.

According to media reports, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the update in a Monday post on Threads, responding to feedback from users who found the previous account deletion process inconvenient.

Since its launch in July as part of the Meta family, Threads has been closely integrated with Instagram, sharing the same username and password. However, a significant concern arose when users realised that removing their Threads profile necessitated the removal of their entire Instagram account.

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Acknowledging this issue just a day after its launch, Mosseri assured users that Meta was exploring a solution to allow the deletion of Threads accounts separately from Instagram. Now, five months later, the company has implemented the fix.

Previously, users could only deactivate their Threads account to maintain separation from Instagram. This process hid the profile on the app, set it to private, and deleted all individual posts. Now, the updated feature allows users to easily delete their Threads account without affecting their Instagram profile.

To initiate the process, users can navigate to the Threads iOS or Android app, tap their profile icon in the bottom toolbar, select the double-line icon at the top right, choose the “Account” option, and then proceed to “Delete Profile.” After confirming identity, users can tap “Delete Threads Profile.”

Meta’s efforts to enhance user experience extend beyond this update. Users can now view the Meta apps posts directly on Facebook and Instagram, with the option to disable post suggestions on these platforms for those who prefer to keep content separate.

Despite an initial decline in user growth and engagement over the summer, the application has experienced a resurgence, now estimated to have around 140 million users.

Meta continues to refine and expand the platform, responding to user feedback, with requests for more profile personalization options, date/time stamps for posts, and a hashtag feature among the ongoing improvements users hope to see.