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Will Meta’s New Setting Transform How People Use Threads?
Threads might finally give users the power to cut ties with Instagram completely. A new option found in the app’s settings lets people delete their current profile and start fresh using just their email or phone number.
This move helps solve a big problem many users have faced since Threads launched. When the app first came out in July 2023, it worked only if you had an Instagram account. This setup bothered people who wanted to use Threads but didn’t want to deal with Instagram.
What This Change Means
The new setting appears under account options on iPhones. When someone picks this choice, their Instagram details won’t carry over. That means no username, bio, or followers from Instagram will show up on the new Threads account.
Users who make this switch will also stop getting ads based on what they do on Instagram. However, there’s a catch – your old Threads profile disappears right away and gets deleted forever after 30 days.
Why This Matters Now
Threads has grown to over 200 million users each month, but it still trails behind X when it comes to keeping people engaged. By letting users disconnect from Instagram, Meta might attract new people who avoid their photo-sharing app.
This change makes sense for several groups:
- Business users who want to keep work and personal accounts separate
- Privacy-focused people who worry about data sharing between apps
- New users who never wanted Instagram in the first place
- Content creators who want a fresh start without their Instagram history
Meta tested similar options earlier this year. In May, reports showed they were working on ways to sign up for Threads without needing Instagram. This new setting seems like the next step in making Threads work on its own.
The timing fits with other updates Threads has rolled out recently. The app now has direct messages and works with other social networks through something called fediverse integration. These changes show Meta wants Threads to stand alone as a complete social platform.
What Users Should Know
Not everyone can see this new option yet. It might only show up for people in Europe right now, though that’s not confirmed. If you don’t see it in your settings, it could appear soon as Meta rolls it out to more places.
Before making the switch, users should understand what they’ll lose. All connections to Instagram followers will disappear. Any personalized content based on Instagram activity will stop working too.
For people who want a clean slate on social media, this option offers exactly that. It lets them build a Threads presence without any baggage from their Instagram past.
Meta hasn’t made any official statements about this feature yet. But if it sticks around, it could change how people think about using Threads. The app might finally become the independent platform Meta always said it could be.
This change shows Meta listening to user feedback about privacy and choice. It gives people more control over their social media experience – something users have been asking for since Threads first launched.