Meta’s Threads platform is moving closer to independence, with the company now testing the ability for users in the European Union to create a Threads account without linking it to Instagram. The new option allows select users to sign up using only an email address or phone number—marking a significant step in separating Threads from its Instagram roots.
Previously, Threads accounts were directly tied to Instagram logins, and its early user experience leaned heavily on Instagram’s social graph. However, Meta has been gradually distancing the two platforms. As of late 2024, Instagram follower data no longer determined who users are prompted to follow upon joining Threads. Post recommendations, while still partially informed by Instagram activity, are also expected to be adjusted over time.
Meta confirmed the current test, noting that it’s limited to certain EU users for now. If widely rolled out, the change would allow people to create standalone Threads profiles with usernames independent of their Instagram handles – a shift that supports a more text-focused, real-time social feed akin to X (formerly Twitter).
The divergence reflects Meta’s evolving strategy for Threads, aiming to establish it as a platform with its own identity rather than a companion to Instagram. This aligns with Threads’ broader goal of becoming a hub for real-time conversations and breaking updates, an area where relevance and engagement often differ significantly from the image-centric world of Instagram.
With the app reportedly surpassing 350 million users, Threads is gaining traction – and its move toward platform independence may help further solidify its position in the increasingly competitive landscape of social media newsfeeds.
