Update — June 2026
A key change has occurred since this article was published: Meta reversed the policy that made deleting a Threads account also delete the Instagram profile it was linked to. Following widespread user complaints, Meta updated Threads so that the two accounts can now be managed independently — you can permanently delete your Threads profile without any effect on your Instagram account, posts, followers, or messages.
The one-way dependency does still apply in the other direction: deleting or deactivating your Instagram account will automatically delete or deactivate your linked Threads profile as well, since Threads relies on Instagram’s authentication system.
When you choose to delete your Threads profile, there is a 30-day grace period during which you can log back in to cancel the deletion. After those 30 days, your Threads posts, likes, and followers are permanently removed, and it may take up to 90 days for all associated data to be cleared from Meta’s servers.
Users are flocking to Threads at an astonishing rate, with 10 million signing up in just seven hours, according to co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. The new service, which requires an Instagram account for onboarding, has one unique caveat: Deleting a Threads account also deletes the linked Instagram account. Meta explains that you can deactivate your Threads profile at any time, but you must delete your Instagram account to delete your Threads profile. This stipulation has surprised many users since it links the two accounts together. However, I quickly realized that I can’t delete my Threads account without also deleting my Instagram account, so I deactivated my Threads account. I encourage everyone to think twice before signing up for Threads and consider the consequences. Threads is proving to be the most desirable Twitter rival yet. Zuckerberg announced on Thursday that the app had gained 10 million signups in just seven hours, expressing his excitement with an emoji. This rapid growth makes Threads the fastest-growing consumer offering. Netflix, Amazon, NFL, Pepsi, and other brands have expressed their support for Threads by signing up for the app. However, major names such as Google, Apple, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Disney have yet to make an appearance at the time of publication.
