Mark Zuckerberg has launched Threads today, and it is now available for download. Many Nigerians and Americans have already started downloading the app, but we’ve noticed that most of the interaction on the app seems to be missing European activity.
This is because, according to Meta policy, if Threads users want to delete their accounts, it appears they will also have to delete their Instagram accounts. This is the reason why Threads is banned in EU zones like Ireland, to comply with GDPR regulations.
To create a Threads account, you need to have an Instagram account. Since the two accounts are connected, Meta states in its policy, hidden in Instagram, not even Threads that, deleting your Threads account will require terminating your linked Instagram account. It however gives room to “deactivate your profile.”
Although deactivating a Threads account may seem less alarming compared to completely deleting your Threads profile and losing your Instagram, it’s important to understand that these actions are not the same thing. When a Threads account is deactivated, the user’s data remains stored in Meta or Instagram’s database, even if you decide to opt out of being an active user of the app.
As it stands, if you decide not to create a Threads profile, you can still use Instagram but if you choose not to keep an already opened Threads account, you will lose access to your Instagram account entirely. The lack of disclosure by Meta regarding this connection reeks of coercion and reflects a disregard for user agency.
We shared privacy and data collection concerns in an earlier report before Threads became public. At the moment, the major struggle users will have is limited control over their personal information and how it is utilized by Meta or Instagram. GDPR laws and how they are fought could ensure Meta completely separates Threads from Instagram but it is a waiting game.