Meta is progressively addressing specific aspects of Threads from Instagram, and a notable update now enables Threads users to delete their app accounts without affecting their Instagram accounts, according to a recent announcement from Adam Mosseri, the app's senior executive.
Users can delete or deactivate their profiles on the Threads app by going to Settings -> Account -> Delete.
This change responds to a longstanding request from Threads users who were frustrated by the previous inability to remove their Threads profile without simultaneously erasing their Instagram account. This modification follows another recent tweak by Meta, allowing Threads users to choose not to have their posts promoted in the main feeds of Instagram and Facebook.
Despite these alterations, Instagram and Threads remain closely connected. Having an Instagram account is a prerequisite for joining Threads, and the app's exclusive messaging feature relies on Instagram's inbox. Threads also utilizes users' Instagram presence for recommendations and other functionalities.
While Meta is not expected to completely sever the ties between the two services, there is optimism that Threads could potentially become more independent in the future. Meta has expressed its intention to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, an open-source protocol that powers Mastodon and other services in the fediverse. Although the details of this integration haven't been extensively revealed, it is anticipated to offer social media users novel ways to interact with Threads content, especially those who prefer to avoid Instagram.