Meta is gradually addressing certain intricacies of Threads from Instagram, offering users the capability to delete their Threads accounts without affecting their Instagram accounts, according to Adam Mosseri, the app’s top executive.
Read: Ten iOS 17 features you may not know about
Users can now remove their profile from the Threads app by navigating to Settings -> Account -> Delete or deactivate profile. This enhancement addresses a longstanding user request, as many were frustrated by the inability to eliminate their Threads profile without simultaneously deleting their Instagram account. This update follows Meta’s recent modification, allowing Threads users to opt out of having their posts promoted in the main feeds of Instagram and Facebook.
Despite these changes, Instagram and Threads remain closely interconnected. Joining Threads necessitates having an Instagram account, and the app’s sole messaging feature relies on Instagram’s inbox. Threads also leverages users’ Instagram presence for recommendations and other functionalities.
While a complete separation of the two services seems unlikely, there is optimism that Threads could gain more autonomy. Meta has expressed intentions to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, the open-source protocol powering Mastodon and other services in the fediverse. Although details about this integration are limited, it is expected to provide social media users with alternative ways to engage with Threads content, even if they prefer to avoid Instagram.