How to permanently delete your Facebook account

Post by jakecopp » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 11:06 AM UTC

red_trumpet wrote: post #57

shadowfaxRodeo wrote: post #15

I got rid of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp about 4 years ago. Facebook and Instagram was easy, but people who have WhatsApp really think you’re weird for not having it. Deleting WhatsApp, while annoying for me personally, has resulted in many people I know joining Signal or Telegram — the network effect can be broken by being belligerent. If you don’t want to have a conversation about why you deleted WhatsApp, si…

I mostly agree with your comment, having deleted WhatsApp myself this spring. However I have a problem with that. > many people I know joining Signal or Telegram — the network effect can be broken by being belligerent Did you not use the same network effect to get people to join Signal/Telegram? While I agree that Signal is morally better (being a non-profit and all), it is still a closed garden, which makes such net…

Post by abyssin » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 11:07 AM UTC

jcims wrote: post #33

_ttg wrote: post #10

Faster shortcuts: https://deletefacebook.com/ https://deleteinstagram.com/ It's probably by design, but from experience most people will need non-trivial discipline/hacks to get around the 30 day window and avoid reflexively logging in. Would be curious to know how many people who try deleting their accounts follow through to the end

If folks can't go cold turkey I'd suggest unfollowing everyone first. It makes the site much more useful and easier to quit.

Post by swamp-agr » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 11:08 AM UTC

c8g wrote: post #59

swamp-agr wrote: post #47

The situation is quite interesting here. - Imagine, you're living outside of USA/UK/Europe. - Formally, it's possible to proceed with "Permanently delete my account". - You will even receive email assuring you that two weeks later profile would be completely deleted. - Then, couple years later you'll occasionally seen email from facebook that someone tried to log in into your ("permanently deleted") account. - You'll…

probably you were in a hurry or distressed and didn't read the text while deleting the account and probably, you have disabled your account. They will offer an option to disable account in case you change your mind later. Please stop spreading misinformation.

Post by tdrdt » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 11:11 AM UTC

acwan93 wrote: post #51

willis936 wrote: post #39

Deleting social media accounts is a bad idea. You should squat them and never log in.

I was going to write this. It’s a way to prevent online identity theft, to avoid someone impersonating you online. I kept my social media accounts even though I stopped using them. If someone ever impersonates me, I can use these inactive accounts to say those are definitely mine.

Post by Zy-Zario » Wed, Oct 06, 2021, 11:16 AM UTC

dotancohen wrote: post #18

bborud wrote: post #7

I think it should be a legal requirement that users are able to configure retention of their data. For instance that any content you post will only be retained for N number of weeks/ months/years. And that social media platforms over a certain size have to agree to auditing to ensure that this data is actually deleted.

As someone who implements these types of requirements, this suggestion just adds complexity where none is needed. In the software, and the database, and the backup strategy, and for the average user. Complexity requires time, money, and introduces bugs and user error. Right now we are required by law to remove user data upon request (Europe). That law is strong enough to cover those who need it.