Apple has been hard at work trying to make the user experience as seamless as possible. Not only are we seeing this in the new devices that are being released, but there have also been some major changes to the App Store and its Review Guidelines.
Earlier this year, Apple released the App Store Review Guidelines 5.1.1, which are now requiring developers to include the ability for users to delete their accounts. This feature was originally announced sometime last year, but as of June 30, 2022, any new or updated apps must include the ability to delete accounts.
“If your app doesn’t include significant account-based features, let people use it without a login. If your app supports account creation, you must also offer account deletion within the app. Apps may not require users to enter personal information to function, except when directly relevant to the core functionality of the app or required by law.”
Despite seeing a bit of pushback when the changes were originally released, we’re finally starting to see apps updated with the necessary functionality.
How To Delete Instagram Account On iPhone
One such app that we didn’t expect to comply with right away is Instagram. For years, users have had the ability to “disable” their account from the iPhone app, but until now, there has been no way to delete Instagram account on iPhone. Instead, you would have needed to use the web interface from the browser on your computer.
Thankfully, that’s no longer an issue, as one of the latest app updates brings the ability to actually delete Instagram account on iPhone. And if you’ve been waiting for this functionality to arrive, here’s how you can do so:
Open the Instagram app on your iPhone.
Click the Profile icon in the bottom right corner.
In the top right corner, tap the three horizontal lines.
Tap Settings in the pop-up menu.
From the Settings menu, tap Account.
Scroll all the way to the bottom.
Tap Delete account.
Tap the Delete account option at the bottom of the page.
When prompted, tap the Continue deleting account button.
When going through the process, Instagram implements some unsurprising tactics in an effort to keep you from deleting your account. For instance, when you see the first prompt to confirm that you want to delete your account, the option to “disable your account” is shown as a highlighted button. It comes as no surprise given that Instagram and its parent company don’t actually want users to delete their accounts. So it’s just something to be mindful of when going through the account deletion process.
More Apps Should Be Updated Soon
Even with the rise of TikTok, Instagram remains one of the most popular apps on the App Store. It’s great to see that the developers are complying with the new App Store Review Guidelines, and aren’t causing too much of a fuss. But even with these new guidelines in place, you might find that other apps have yet to adopt the changes.
One big example of this is Spotify, which still does not have the option for users to completely delete their accounts. We’ll be keeping an eye on this to see if Spotify or other apps push back causing more changes to the guidelines.
Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.
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