Meta just rolled out a small but meaningful change: users can now create a Threads account without needing to log in through Instagram.

It’s a quiet shift, but it could change how creators use Threads—and how Meta positions it in the social media lineup.

Until now, Threads and Instagram were basically a package deal.

If you wanted to use Threads, you needed an Instagram account—and if you wanted to delete Threads, you’d have to delete your Instagram too.

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That setup made it feel like Threads was more of an extension than a standalone platform.

But with this update, Threads finally starts to grow its own roots.

Meta confirmed the change, noting that people can now sign up for Threads independently on mobile or web.

Existing Threads accounts are still tied to Instagram logins, but new users get a cleaner slate—and possibly a different mindset.

According to Meta’s announcement, the goal is to give people more flexibility in how they connect.

It’s also a strategic move that signals Meta is playing the long game.

Threads launched fast last summer—rushed, even—to capitalize on the chaos happening over at X.

It grabbed attention early, but momentum cooled as the app started to feel more like a nice-to-have side project rather than a full-featured home for conversation.

This move toward standalone identity gives it more credibility—and room to evolve.

For creators, this opens the door to test Threads as a separate channel without having to worry about disrupting their main Instagram presence.

And that matters. More creators are experimenting with multi-platform strategies, and the ability to carve out a new voice—or a spinoff identity—on Threads could lead to more diverse content.

We’re also seeing Threads continue to lean into its text-first personality, positioning itself as a lighter, more positive alternative to X.

Recent experiments with trending topics, improved search, and an algorithm that favors newer conversations all point to a platform that’s learning from Twitter’s missteps without copying them wholesale.

There’s no Threads API yet and no monetization features, but Meta has confirmed both are on the roadmap.

Decoupling account creation might seem like a background update, but it’s a signal: Threads wants to be more than just Instagram’s quiet cousin.

It wants to stand on its own, and now it finally can.