From the article: Meta’s supplemental privacy policy states, “You may deactivate your Threads profile at any time, but your Threads profile can only be deleted by deleting your Instagram account.”
I interpret it as that you can't delete your Threads profile, unless you delete your Instagram account. So it's not as if you try to delete your Threads account and oopsie your Insta is gone as well... same, but still different.
People are overreacting. It is linked to your Instagram account, so it makes sense. You can still deactivate your Threads account if you don't want to use it but want to keep Instagram.
I don't think it is an overreaction. There is a reason Meta won't allow Threads accounts to be deleted without also deleting your Instagram account. They are holding people hostage in a sense. It is a deliberate move, and there is no reason they couldn't disassociate a Threads account from an Instagram account and delete it. Hell, no need to even disassociate it at all.
This is the type of malignant and anti-open behavior we can expect from Meta. And they are doing it right out of the gate, before they even embrace ActivityPub as they rush to capitalize on Twitter's mess.
I stand by my previous statements: Meta's vision of Threads is to suck up as much growth in our community, then wall it off with tactics like the above, all while embracing open standards.
It isn't like we don't see it happen elsewhere. Google did it with their "proprietarization" of RCS. Google promoted its growth and adoption, then slammed the door shut. That is why Signal and others do not have RCS; Google refuses to allow competitors to have access to it. They've walled it off. Only preferred partners, like Samsung, are allowed to dabble in it now. And so, too, will Meta go that route with ActivityPub if we let them.
Maybe I am too optimistic for my own good lol, but I honestly just think they developed this as fast as they could when they saw the writing on the wall about Twitter. Threads IS Instagram, it was easier and faster to develop this way instead of starting from scratch. That's why deleting one would delete the other.
Edit: I just wanted to clarify I am in no way defending Meta and I don't even have an Instagram account. It's just the way I see it but I admit I can be wrong about this. We'll see what happens in the coming months/years.
I made an account last to check it out but I created a new Instagram first so there’s no link to my name/real email etc. I assume that’s what most people will do if they want to be anonymous.