Meta’s new text-based app, Threads, has gained incredible traction, with 10 million sign-ups in just seven hours, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. However, users have discovered an intriguing stipulation: Deleting a Threads account can only be done by deleting the associated Instagram account.
In Meta’s Supplemental Privacy Policy, it is explained that while users can deactivate their Threads profile, complete deletion requires the removal of the Instagram account.
This surprising discovery has raised questions among users who expected more flexibility with their Threads account.
Threads, a conversation app competing with Twitter, was launched by Instagram, a photo-sharing platform with over 2 billion users. The app has been highly anticipated and has emerged as a leading alternative to Twitter.
Zuckerberg shared his vision for the app, expressing the desire for a public conversations platform with over 1 billion users. He acknowledged that Twitter had the opportunity but failed to achieve it, hoping Threads would succeed.
Within seven hours, the app garnered an astonishing 10 million sign-ups, marking it as the fastest-growing consumer offering to date.
Several prominent brands, including Netflix, Amazon, NFL, and Pepsi, have shown their support by joining Threads. However, the absence of Google, Apple, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Disney raises speculation.
Following user feedback, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, clarified the account deletion process. Users have the option to deactivate their Threads account, hide their profile and content, set their profile to private, or delete individual Threads posts without deleting their Instagram account. Currently, Threads and Instagram accounts are interconnected, meaning deleting one results in the deletion of the other. However, the company is exploring the possibility of enabling separate deletion of Threads accounts.