It’s never really easy to delete an account you’ve had for years. For many of us, our accounts are filled with years of photos, memories that are not easy to part with, even if we’re ready to kick the daily scrolling habit.
The good news is that deleting these accounts is, in many cases, much easier than in the past, even if it sometimes involves a few extra steps.
First and foremost, download your data
Whatever your reasons for wanting to leave your accounts behind, it’s worth taking the time to download all your data before deleting them permanently. Downloading your data will enable you to keep a record of your posts, messages, photos and other activities. These data archives look different depending on the service, but in general they contain your posts, a record of the accounts you follow, your messages and even some of your past activities on the services. Some, like Facebook, even provide information about what the site’s advertisers know about you. In itself, this is a lot of data. It may seem pointless to hang on to it, but if you’ve been using an account for years, it’s a good way to keep track of your past photos, videos and other publications.
How do I download my data from Facebook?
On Facebook, you can access your archives from : Settings and Privacy -> Settings -> your Facebook information -> download your information -> request download. Once you’ve downloaded your data archive, you’re ready to delete your accounts permanently. However, as with data downloads, the process may take several days to complete.
How do I delete my Facebook account?
Before taking any steps, a word of caution is in order. Deleting your account will also delete any third-party accounts you may have used Facebook to connect to. In some cases, you may be able to recover them via the application’s support channels, but this is not guaranteed. Follow the steps outlined here to check which applications and websites you are using Facebook to log in to. For example, if your Oculus account is linked to your Facebook identity, deleting Facebook will permanently delete your Oculus account, including your past purchases. However, Meta now allows users to create a separate “Meta account” that is not dependent on Facebook. Once you’re sure you’re ready to delete your account, you can find the option in Settings & Privacy -> Settings -> your Facebook information -> deactivation and deletion -> delete account -> continue deleting account -> delete account. However, even after you’ve pressed the last “delete” button, Facebook says it takes around 30 days for your information to be fully deleted. This also means that if you change your mind within 30 days, you can cancel the request. According to the company, the deletion process can take up to 90 days, but your profile and other information will not be visible to others on Facebook during this period.