Meta allows EU users independent access to Instagram and Facebook

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced changes to allow users in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland to prevent the sharing of information across its apps.

This move, in compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), enables users in these regions to use Instagram and Facebook separately, even if their accounts are linked. Additionally, Meta will permit users to create a Messenger account independent of their Facebook account, altering how messaging functions on the Marketplace platform.

In response to regulatory requirements, Meta's adjustments grant users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland the option to unlink their Facebook and Instagram accounts, ensuring their information is not shared across platforms. Those who choose to retain linked accounts can continue their operations as usual.

This development follows Meta's recent decision to halt cross-app chats between Instagram and Messenger. Despite CEO Mark Zuckerberg's previous commitment to enable cross-platform messaging, the company limited messaging capabilities to each platform. In December, Meta introduced support for end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) chats on Messenger.

For users in the specified regions, Meta introduces the option to sign up for a new Messenger account independent of their existing Facebook account. While users can still engage in messaging through their Facebook accounts, some features may not function as expected.

Notably, Messenger features on the Marketplace platform, facilitating communication between buyers and sellers, will be replaced by an email option for unlinked accounts. Similarly, unlinking Facebook Gaming accounts will restrict access to multiplayer features and targeted recommendations.

These changes are part of Meta's efforts to comply with the DMA in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. The company may extend similar functionalities to other regions if comparable legislation is enacted, allowing users in additional countries to operate their accounts independently.