In a clash reminiscent of the ongoing battle between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, Meta, the company behind Instagram, has unleashed Threads, a text-based chat application aimed squarely at Twitter’s domain. This new contender allows users to sign in using their trusty Instagram credentials, seamlessly transferring their followers, usernames, and coveted verification status. However, Threads has come under scrutiny for its apparent lack of account deactivation options that don’t impact the linked Instagram account.
Threads operate much like Twitter, boasting similar features such as reposting, akin to Twitter’s beloved retweet, and a scrolling timeline brimming with bite-sized posts. Within a mere few days of its launch, the app skyrocketed, attracting nearly 100 million users, predominantly due to its integration with Instagram, enabling people to seamlessly transfer their current details, including their prized followers. Alas, this close-knit connection between Threads and Instagram has sparked a few hiccups.
Users have discovered a peculiar predicament: they cannot deactivate their Threads account without deactivating their beloved Instagram account as well. While this may seem rather odd, the crux of the matter lies in Threads’ reliance on an Instagram account for usage. Regrettably, at present, there exists no feasible method to extricate these two accounts. Acknowledging the issue, Adam Mosseri, the head honcho of Instagram, admitted they are actively seeking solutions to allow users to delete Threads independently without the need for obliterating their entire Instagram presence.
Mosseri elucidated, “I’ve been bombarded with inquiries about deleting your account. Let me clarify: you can indeed deactivate your Threads account, which effectively conceals your Threads profile and content. You can also keep your profile private and eliminate individual Threads posts, all without bidding farewell to your Instagram account. Threads are intrinsically linked to Instagram, so as of now, it’s a unified entity. Nevertheless, we are exploring avenues to grant you the power to delete your Threads account separately.”
While the current situation may not be optimal, rest assured, the company is resolute in its determination to iron out the kinks. Threads is still in its nascent stage, seemingly rushed to seize upon Twitter’s recent debacles that have left users disenchanted. It does have a few crucial features missing in action, such as hashtags and direct messaging. Nonetheless, Meta has lofty plans to rectify these shortcomings in the ensuing months and weeks.
The battle royale between Meta and Twitter has escalated to levels that rival the infamous feud between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Threads’ seamless integration with Instagram affords it an edge, allowing it to entice users swiftly. While Musk has imposed constraints on the number of daily tweets a user can consume on Twitter, potentially alienating advertisers and subscribers, the Threads app emerges as an alternative haven for disgruntled Facebook and Twitter denizens.
However, Threads has not emerged unscathed from the tumult. Mike Proulx, a discerning analyst at Forrester, argues that Meta is capitalizing on the prevailing atmosphere of discontent that permeates Twitter. Proulx candidly stated to CNET, “While Meta should be commended for their persistent test and learn strategy, the company hasn’t exactly excelled in launching standalone apps beyond their core family,” alluding to previous app endeavors like Slingshot and IGTV. He also pointed out the deluge of Twitter alternatives flooding the market, such as Bluesky, Mastodon, and Hive, which could potentially fragment the quest for viable alternatives.