Threads accounts can't be deleted without also removing your Instagram account

Just two days after its launch, Meta's new social media platform, Threads, has already garnered over 95 million posts and more than 50 million accounts. Threads, positioned as a rival to X, has a unique requirement for users to sign up: they must have an Instagram account.

However, a noteworthy condition has been outlined in the platform's Supplemental Privacy Policy: if a user wishes to delete their Threads account, they must also delete their linked Instagram account. Meta explains, “You may deactivate your Threads profile at any time, but your Threads profile can only be deleted by deleting your Instagram account.” The policy further states that “Your Threads profile is part of your Instagram account.”

This clause has taken many users by surprise, as they may want to remove their Threads profile but retain their Instagram account. The implications of this policy are significant, suggesting that Threads and Instagram are more deeply integrated than initially apparent.