Threads, the micro-blogging platform developed by Meta to compete with Elon Musk’s X, has gained traction rapidly following its launch just a few months ago. Although the app, which stems from Instagram, is still in its early stages, it has faced criticism for a number of limitations. Since Threads became available in July, users have expressed dissatisfaction over the inability to delete their Threads profile independently of their Instagram account. In response, Instagram head Adam Mosseri has unveiled two major updates aimed at improving user experience on the platform.
In a post on Threads, Mosseri announced that the company is implementing updates based on user input. The first of these updates introduces the long-awaited feature that allows users to delete their Threads profile without needing to remove their associated Instagram account. Previously, since Threads accounts were linked to Instagram, users were unable to eliminate their Threads presence without also deleting their Instagram. However, they could temporarily deactivate their Threads profile.
With the new update, users can now delete their Threads profile while leaving their Meta photo-sharing account intact. This process can be initiated by navigating to Settings > Account > Delete or Deactivate Profile, where users can select the option to delete their Threads account entirely.
Additionally, Threads is launching a second update that grants users greater control over the visibility of their posts across Meta’s platforms. Currently, posts made on Threads are also visible on Instagram and Facebook, a feature designed to enhance engagement across Meta’s various platforms. Responding to user concerns regarding privacy and the lack of control over where their Threads posts would appear, this new update allows users to opt out of sharing their Threads content on platforms beyond Threads itself. This setting can be found in the Privacy section of the Settings menu.
Since its ambitious launch in July, Threads has faced criticism for missing many features commonly found in traditional text-based social media. One notable aspect was its initial lack of web access, which was only rectified in August with the introduction of a web version to compete with X (formerly Twitter).
The app has also drawn attention for its extensive user data collection practices, similar to other applications within the Meta ecosystem. After a record-breaking debut on July 6—making it the fastest app to reach 100 million downloads—Threads struggled with user retention in the ensuing weeks, experiencing a loss of over half its users. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged this challenge, emphasizing the company’s focus on enhancing user retention. “Obviously, if you have more than 100 million people sign up, ideally it would be awesome if all of them or even half of them stuck around. We’re not there yet,” he remarked.
Moreover, Threads recently introduced features such as an edit button and Voice Threads, which allows users to modify their posts up to five minutes after posting and enables them to share recorded voice messages as posts.
