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How to permanently delete your Facebook account

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Re: How to permanently delete your Facebook account

#71

Post by jasode »

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…

>Deleting WhatsApp, [...], has resulted in many people I know joining Signal or Telegram — the network effect can be broken by being belligerent.

This practical application of your advice depends on where a particular person sits in their social hierarchy.

E.g. an influential person that's a "hub" or "connector" in their social circle can switch from WhatsApp to Signal ... or insist on email only ... or insist on no email and only hardcopy snail mail (Donald Knuth) -- and others will follow their lead or accommodate them.

On the other hand, if you're one of the folks at the "spokes" or "edges" of social graphs... being defiant by deleting WhatsApp doesn't accomplish anything because others don't care to switch to reach you.

The above difference in social influence happens in Asia countries where many use WhatsApp beyond personal relationships for business to sell items or find work. If the business contacts you depend on for getting income use WhatsApp, you deleting WhatsApp just means you get $0 because they'd rather deal with other vendors who don't force them the hassle of switching to Signal. Power and leverage in social graphs matter.

Re: How to permanently delete your Facebook account

#72

Post by hnlmorg »

zionic wrote: post #36
dotancohen wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could have written this comment word for word. People get _offended_ when you tell them that you don't have Whatsapp. But I let them hold that hot coal themselves.

This is so strange, no one in my social circle uses WhatsApp or has ever asked me to use it to talk to them. It’s all iMessage, Snapchat, and a growing group of people on Signal.

Messaging clients tend to be regional. WhatsApp is massive in Europe. From what I gather WeChat is dominant in mainland China but Hong Kong still used WhatsApp (though I think they might be coming round to Signal?) and the US, who have a higher ratio of Apple users vs the rest of the world, tend to use iMessage a lot more.

Re: How to permanently delete your Facebook account

#73

Post by lopis »

orangepanda wrote: post #54
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…

> 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. Network effect is irrelevant for pure messaging services. If someone needs to talk to you, they'll send a pigeon if they have to.

You underestimate the power of convenience. It doesn't bother me much, but I've lost friends because we couldn't keep in touch anywhere other than facebook and whatsapp. Eventually, anyone can stop needing to talk to you.

Re: How to permanently delete your Facebook account

#74

Post by shadowfaxRodeo »

jasode wrote: post #71
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…

>Deleting WhatsApp, [...], has resulted in many people I know joining Signal or Telegram — the network effect can be broken by being belligerent. This practical application of your advice depends on where a particular person sits in their social hierarchy . E.g. an influential person that's a "hub" or "connector" in their social circle can switch from WhatsApp to Signal ... or insist on email only ... or insist on no…

This is an excellent point.

I’m no influencer, but i do have a big family and lots of very close friends. I’m very lucky.

Many people are isolated and struggle to make and maintain friendships — especially over the last year. They don’t have the luxury of being able to take a stand.

Re: How to permanently delete your Facebook account

#75

Post by Program_Install »

I wish more people would consider the deletion of facebooks from their lives. It has become the most dangerous form of SkyNet, and most voluntarily hand their lives to them. Nothing worse than idiots attempting to make themselves relevant for no reason other than trying to be relevant.

Re: How to permanently delete your Facebook account

#76

Post by colechristensen »

Program_Install wrote: post #75

I wish more people would consider the deletion of facebooks from their lives. It has become the most dangerous form of SkyNet, and most voluntarily hand their lives to them. Nothing worse than idiots attempting to make themselves relevant for no reason other than trying to be relevant.

Companies tracking and profiting from your every move are everywhere. If you’re not live-blogging your entire life on Facebook it’s really quite far from the worst offender in the surveillance economy.

Re: How to permanently delete your Facebook account

#77

Post by willis936 »

tdrdt wrote: post #67
acwan93 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

It doesn't prevent identify theft. Someone can still create an account using your name.

But no one can make you remove connections from an existing social media account.

Re: How to permanently delete your Facebook account

#78

Post by itomato »

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.

"disabling" until later is the opposite of immediate deletion. Please stop spreading disinformation.

Re: How to permanently delete your Facebook account

#80

Post by nicbou »

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…

In Europe, people just assume that you have it. I often get the first contact from pensions and airbnbs on WhatsApp. I convinced a few people to switch to Telegram, but there are still a few stragglers on WhatsApp and even Facebook Messenger.
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