MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA: Meta, the parent company of Instagram, recently unveiled Threads, a text-based conversation app aimed at competing with Twitter. While Threads allows users to sign in using their Instagram credentials and transfer their usernames, followers, and verification status, it has come under scrutiny for its lack of account deactivation options without affecting the connected Instagram account.
Threads functions similarly to Twitter, with a repost feature reminiscent of retweets and a scrolling timeline with tweet-sized posts. Within a few days of its launch, the app garnered nearly 100 million users, primarily due to its integration with Instagram, allowing users to import their existing information, followers, and followings. However, this direct link between Threads and Instagram has resulted in some complications.
Does deleting your Threads account also delete your Instagram?
Users discovered that they cannot deactivate their Threads account without also deactivating their Instagram. Although it may seem peculiar, this issue arises because Threads requires an Instagram account for use, and currently, there is no method to separate the two accounts. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, acknowledged the problem and mentioned that while there are some workarounds to essentially render the Threads account inactive without deleting the entire Instagram account, they are actively exploring ways to enable users to delete Threads independently.
Mosseri clarified, "I've been getting some questions about deleting your account. To clarify, you can deactivate your Threads account, which hides your Threads profile and content, you can set your profile to private, and you can delete individual Threads posts – all without deleting your Instagram account. Threads is powered by Instagram, so right now it's just one account, but we're looking into a way to delete your Threads account separately."
Although the current situation is not ideal, the company is committed to addressing the issue. Threads is still in its early stages and may have been released in haste to capitalize on Twitter's recent controversies, which have left many users dissatisfied. However, Threads currently lacks essential features such as hashtags and direct messaging, but Meta intends to rectify these shortcomings in the upcoming weeks and months.
Threads vs Twitter
The competition between Meta and Twitter has escalated beyond the well-known rivalry between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Threads' integration with Instagram provides it with a significant advantage, allowing it to rapidly attract users. While Musk has introduced restrictions on the number of tweets users can read per day on Twitter, potentially leading to a decline in subscribers and advertisers, Threads offers an alternative option for dissatisfied social media users.
However, Threads has also faced criticism. Forrester analyst Mike Proulx suggested that Meta is capitalizing on the prevailing wave of discontent with Twitter. Proulx told CNET, "While credit should be given to Meta's steadfast test and learn strategy, the company doesn't exactly have a successful track record launching standalone apps outside its core family," referring to previous apps like Slingshot and IGTV. Additionally, he noted that the market is saturated with Twitter alternatives like Bluesky, Mastodon, and Hive, leading to fragmentation among users seeking alternatives.
