In a bid to address user concerns, Meta's new microblogging platform, Threads, has unveiled a new feature that enables users to delete their Threads profile without affecting their linked Instagram account. Since its launch in July, Threads users had expressed dissatisfaction with the inability to remove their presence from the platform without deleting their entire Instagram account.
Responding to user feedback, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the update to the social media site.
The first update caters to the long-standing request for the ability to delete a Threads profile independently of the associated Instagram account. Previously, Threads profiles were intrinsically linked to their corresponding Instagram accounts, leaving users with no option to eliminate their Threads presence without sacrificing their entire Instagram presence.
On Threads' settings, users can choose to delete or deactivate their profiles, clicking on a dedicated option to not delete their Instagram account as well.
The second update focuses on enhancing user control over the visibility of Threads posts across Meta's social platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook. Initially, Threads posts were automatically visible on these platforms, a strategic move by Meta to drive engagement. In response to privacy concerns raised by users who lacked control over the display of their Threads posts, the update introduces an opt-out feature. Users can now access this option in the Privacy section of the Settings menu, allowing them to choose whether their Threads posts appear on platforms outside of Threads.
Despite its explosive debut in July, Threads faced criticism for its initial lack of features typical of text-based social media platforms. The platform recently addressed some of these concerns by introducing a Web version in August, catching up with competitors like X (formerly Twitter).
After achieving a record-breaking 100 million downloads within days of its launch, Threads experienced a significant drop in user retention in subsequent weeks, losing over half of its initial user base. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged the challenge and expressed the company's commitment to improving user retention. Despite the setbacks, Threads has continued to roll out updates, including the introduction of an edit button and a Voice Threads feature in the past month, allowing users to edit posts within a five-minute window and share recorded voice messages as Threads posts, respectively.