Arabic version: ميتا تطلق نظام حساب موحّد عبر تطبيقاتها

According to ABC News, Meta is replacing its Accounts Centre with an updated system called Meta Account, designed to unify account management across the company’s apps and devices. The automatic change is being introduced gradually, with some Australians already seeing notifications and emails about the update.

The system covers Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, Threads, Meta AI, AI glasses and Meta Quest headsets. Meta says WhatsApp will not be added by default; it will appear only if a user chooses to add it or had previously added it to Accounts Centre. Meta says the switch will not alter users’ profiles or how they use the apps.

Meta says the new account system is intended to make signing in and settings management easier. Planned features include one password, easier setup for new apps and devices, passkeys, around-the-clock protection and personalised security recommendations.

Users cannot opt out of the rollout, but can decide which profiles are included in a Meta Account. They can, for example, keep Facebook and Instagram in separate Meta Accounts. App-specific settings, including Facebook post visibility and Instagram photo-tagging controls, will remain independent.

Macquarie University cyber security lecturer Jennifer Williams said the unified system was likely no more or less secure than the previous one, but a breach could have greater consequences because it could expose access across connected services. University of Queensland Cyber Research Centre director Ryan Ko said the more significant issue was privacy, arguing that a unified identity can create a richer profile of a user across services.