Twitter rival Threads holds your Instagram account hostage
Seems like Meta really wants you to use Threads.
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Threads is Meta’s answer to Twitter’s rapid downfall, this Instagram-linked app has received mixed reviews from the public after its recent launch. And it seems Meta really wants you to keep using your Threads profile as Twitter rival Threads holds your Instagram account hostage.
You can’t delete your threads account without deleting your Instagram
You’re out of luck if you want to sign up for a Threads profile just to give it a try. If you decided that it’s not for you, then you can’t just hit delete and forget about it.
It clearly states in the Threads Supplemental Privacy Policy that “Your Threads profile is part of your Instagram account, and may be deleted at any time by deleting your Instagram account.“
It is also stated that you can deactivate your account at any time, and your profile will not be available to the public, but anything you have shared on threads will still remain for all to see. That is unless you go ahead and delete everything manually. Even then, your data may remain on the servers for up to 90 days. As we stated above, the nuclear option will also delete your Instagram account.
Although we’re sure this complies with all the data laws in various countries, it’s still a bit f a kick in the teeth that you have to say goodbye to your Instagram account if you want to rid the world of your Threads profile.
This decision was made undoubtedly to keep users on the App, we’re not developers, but we’re sure Meta is capable of deleting the account separately.
Will Meta change the Threads deletion clause?
It is unclear as to whether this was intentional or not, but it does look like an incentive to keep people using Threads. We think that everyone should have the right to at least take a look at what Threads has to offer before being tied into it.
Even a 30-day free trial before the account is linked to your Instagram irreparably would be a step in the right direction. If Meta still insisted on the two being so tightly wound that one can’t exist without the other.
We urge users who are conscious of their online footprint to find other means of looking into Threads without physically doing so themselves. Alternatively, you could set up a burner account specifically for Threads. Since Twitter rival Threads holds your Instagram account hostage.
