Threads, the social media platform whose operations in Turkey had been suspended for months, has been reopened following a new decision by the Competition Authority. As Threads leaves its suspension period in the Turkish market behind, radical changes have also been made to the platform’s login requirements and data policies.
With the lifting of the interim injunction issued against Meta in 2024, the platform is now greeting users with a brand-new infrastructure.
Using Threads Without an Instagram Account
In the new era, the biggest and most significant innovation for Threads users in Turkiye is the flexibility in account creation methods. Previously, those who wanted to join the platform were required to transfer their Instagram profiles to Threads. With the intervention of the Competition Authority, this obligation has completely come to an end.
- Users who wish to do so can continue to log in to the platform by linking their existing Instagram accounts.
- Alternatively, those who prefer can create a brand-new Threads account from scratch, completely independent of Instagram, using only a phone number.
Data Control and Privacy Are Now in the Hands of Users
At the very heart of the Turkish Competition Authority’s (Rekabet Kurumu) interim measure against Meta was the security of user data. With the new regulation put in place, data control has been completely handed over to the users.
Users who choose to use Threads independently of Instagram will not have their data combined with information collected on other Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp). This will give users much clearer control over their own personal data.
Why Was Threads Shut Down in Turkey?
The platform’s shutdown process stemmed from concerns regarding Meta’s data processing policies:
- In 2024, the Turkish Competition Authority issued an interim injunction against Meta over concerns that the automatic combination of Threads and Instagram data could constitute a competition violation in the market.
- Following this decision, Meta chose to shut down access to the Threads application in Turkey.
- The Competition Board also imposed an administrative fine on Meta for the period in question during which the interim injunction was not complied with.
👉 In summary: Threads has resumed operations in Turkey with its new structure that protects data privacy and eliminates the Instagram requirement. Users will now be able to enjoy a freer social media experience by preventing their data from being combined within the Meta ecosystem.
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