Meta Tests Easy Account Switching Between Facebook and Instagram

Meta is testing new ways to better integrate Facebook and Instagram—like making it easier to switch between accounts with just a tap.

“We know that many people use more than one of our apps to pursue different interests, reach a broader audience or share different aspects of who they are with different groups of people,” says(Opens in a new window) Robert d’Apice, director of product management at Meta. “With that in mind, we’re simplifying the process of creating and switching between accounts and profiles.”

Up first is a new profile-switching interface, rolling out now to Android, iOS, and web users. Add individual social media credentials to the same Accounts Center to seamlessly swap between Instagram and Facebook.

(Credit: Meta)

The company introduced Accounts Center(Opens in a new window) two years ago in an attempt to fast-track access to profile logins and recovery, cross-posting, and making digital purchases without having to retreat to your phone’s home screen, multitasking menu, or app drawer.

Now, it’s updating the way mobile users log in and create fresh accounts across Facebook and Instagram. Newbies, for instance, need only sign up for one account, which can then be used to create another (and another, and another). Meanwhile, folks who’ve been scrolling IG and FB for years can now use login information associated with one app to access the other; just toggle on the “Sharing across profiles” and “Logging in with accounts” options in the Accounts Center.

(Credit: Meta)

“Each of these new features uses the Meta brand to make it clear and easy to understand that you are interacting with a feature that works across more than one Meta technology, and to make the process as streamlined as possible,” according to d’Apice.

Existing security features like two-factor authentication still apply to these updates, he says. Users will be notified when a new account is created using their existing profile, and when one is added to their Accounts Center.

Currently limited to Facebook and Instagram, Meta plans to “continue to explore how to improve connected experiences across all of our technologies,” like wrapping in its other apps and services—Messenger, WhatsApp, and Portal.

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