Warning: Deleting Threads profile kills your Instagram account, too
Jul 6, 2023
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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If you’re rushing to switch from Twitter to Meta’s version of it, Threads – hold your horses. In case you don’t like it, you won’t be able to delete only this app. Instead, you’ll lose your Instagram account too, and there’s no way to bypass this!
[Related reading: Meta takes on Twitter with its new app “Threads”]
According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, 10 million people signed up for Threads in the first seven hours. As TechCrunch notes, this makes Threads the fastest-growing consumer offering.
However, users started noticing that their Instagram account is deleted if they decide to leave Threads. Emily Hughes wrote on Twitter (real Twitter) that she deactivated her Threads account, “but it turns out you can’t delete your threads account without also deleting your Instagram account.”
To be fair, this is clearly stated in Instagram’s Help Center under Threads Supplemental Privacy Policy: “You may deactivate your Threads profile at any time, but your Threads profile can only be deleted by deleting your Instagram account.” So, before you rush and sign up for Threads, I suggest you actually read the Privacy Policy and think about whether or not you’re ready to lose your Instagram account in case you want to leave Threads.
This is a pretty uncool move from Meta, in my opinion. It reminded me of the time when Flickr was connected to your Yahoo account, so you couldn’t delete Yahoo or you’d lose your Flickr profile too. But it was around 10 years ago, so I can’t believe that Meta is doing it now. It’s like forcing you to stay on Threads even if you change your mind.
Still, you can “hack” the system if you’re just curious about the new app (kinda). You can make a new Instagram account, use it to connect to Threads, and if you don’t like it… Well, then delete it all and just go on using your old Instagram as you have so far. Or, as Emily suggests, maybe just don’t sign up. As curious as I may be – I think I’ll just stick to the latter.
[via TechCrunch]
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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11 responses to “Warning: Deleting Threads profile kills your Instagram account, too”
The social media stuff is all such a joke. I killed my twatter off in Jan 2021 and suddenly life was better again. Took a few days of withdrawal yes, but it was worth it. Deleted the ‘Gram too around that time. Got tired of constantly seeing content referring to anorexia and celebrity crap.
Everything Meta and Zuckerberg just suck. I deleted Facebook, their massaging app and Instagram. I lost nothing but gained a lot – I got my free and precious time back and don’t need to tolerate millions of fake people anymore..
So, whatever Zuckerberg pushes on us – goes right into the trash can.
Well, if you’re worried about the privacy of Threads WHY ARE YOU STAYING ON INSTAGRAM? :)
A new app rushed out to take advantage of Twitter screw-ups. Just wait a few days and this will be fixed.
If even worth the bother. I spend 15 min on Threads, decided it was as much a waste of time as Twitter and just hid it in a “not used” folder on my phone…
Burt Johnson why not delete?
No thanks
Given Twitter promotes free speech and Meta does not, I’ll stick with Twitter.
Ryan King a launch bug that’s written about in their own HELP centre?
“You may deactivate your Threads profile at any time, but your Threads profile can only be deleted by deleting your Instagram account.”
Ferry, someone didn’t think about the issue correctly and once pointed out in the public. Leadership commented they’ll get it fixed.
Meta already said they are going to fix this. So transient launch bug.
Coo coo