The allure of new social media platforms can quickly fade, and apparently, as many users are wondering how to deactivate Threads account, the shortcomings of Threads have started to take their effect on users. If you find yourself seeking an exit from Threads, the social media platform associated with Instagram, there are steps you can take to deactivate your account.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of deactivating your Threads account and explore the potential for independent account deletion in the future.
How to deactivate Threads account without losing your Instagram account?
As things stand, there is no way to permanently delete your Threads account without also losing your Instagram account, the only thing you can do about the situation is to deactivate your Threads account.
Hence, if you’re seeking a permanent solution and wish to delete your Threads account completely, currently, the only option is to delete your Instagram account as well. This limitation has prompted discussions about the need for Threads to offer independent account deletion, making it a more viable alternative to Twitter.
The issue of unlinking Threads from Instagram and enabling separate account deletion has caught the attention of Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram. He recently shared that Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is actively working on a solution to address this concern.
Mosseri acknowledged the user demand for the ability to delete Threads accounts independently, stating, “Threads is powered by Instagram, so right now it’s just one account, but we’re looking into a way to delete your Threads account separately.” This development offers hope for users who seek more control over their social media presence.
At the time of writing, no such solution has been implemented to the new platform. Therefore, the only current way to permanently delete a Threads account is to delete the Instagram account that it’s linked to. We’ll update here and explain how to seperately delete a Threads account once the solution that Mosseri mentions comes to life. Nevertheless, if you still want to get rid of your Threads account even if temporarily, check out below to learn how to deactivate Threads accounts.
Moreover, Mosseri confirmed that Meta is actively addressing missing features in Threads, including the introduction of a “following” tab, support for hashtags, integration with fediverse (a network of third-party-operated servers), and enhanced messaging capabilities. These updates aim to provide a more robust and comprehensive user experience on Threads.
Nevertheless, if you still want to take some action to shut down your Threads account in some way, below are the simple steps that you should take in order to deactivate your Threads account without harming your Instagram account in any way:
- Launch the Threads app on your device and tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
- Access the settings menu by tapping the menu icon (two dashes) in the top-right corner.
- Select “Account” from the menu.
- Tap on “Deactivate profile”.
- Confirm your decision by selecting “Deactivate Threads profile”.
Upon completion of these steps, you will be logged out of the app and redirected to the login screen. It’s important to note that you can only deactivate your Threads account once a week.
Deactivating your Threads account temporarily disables and hides your profile, threads, replies, likes, and followers from other users. Your account is not deleted and can be reactivated at any time by logging back in with your username and password.
What else can you do?
While awaiting independent account deletion, there are other actions you can take to manage your Threads experience in addition to checking out how to deactivate Threads account. Consider the following options:
- Profile privacy: Set your Threads profile to private, allowing only your followers to access your threads.
- Thread deletion: Remove individual threads if you no longer wish to share them with others.
- Platform segregation: Threads accounts are currently connected to Instagram. However, you can utilize a different email address or phone number that is not associated with your Instagram account, effectively keeping the two platforms separate.
Applying how to deactivate Threads account offers a temporary respite from the platform while keeping your account and data intact for potential reactivation. Although independent account deletion is not currently available, Meta is actively working on a solution to address this concern. Meanwhile, users can explore alternative measures, such as profile privacy settings and thread deletion, to customize their Threads experience. As Threads continues to evolve, the integration of missing features and the potential for independent account deletion will likely enhance its appeal as a distinct social media platform.
If you are curious about what should the new platform expect and wish to speculate upon its near future, check out our article on the future of Threads: Opportunities and threats.
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