Dubai - Plus some steps on how to 'properly' log out - forever.
Published: Fri 23 Mar 2018, 3:56 PM
Last updated: Fri 23 Mar 2018, 6:40 PM
It sounds simply unimaginable at first - deleting your Facebook account. After all, you can't just say goodbye to a website you need to keep in touch with your family and friends; stay informed with news updates or even for work. Many are apprehensive about privacy breach in the wake of the disclosure that Cambridge Analytica - a political consultancy company - harvested data from 50 million users of the social network site.
Read more: Mark Zuckerberg tells CNN he is 'happy to' testify before Congress
On top of that, many are following the campaign - #DeleteFacebook - started by WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton on Twitter. If you're ready to take the plunge, here are some steps to follow to delete your Facebook account. If you're still on the fence, we'll also talk about deactivating your account (it's different from deleting). We've also discussed earlier steps to make your account more secure if you still want to keep your FB account.
Delete or deactivate?
There are two options when it comes to removing your Facebook account. One is to deactivate the account, the other is to delete. First, let's talk about deactivating. When you deactivate, nobody can message, nor search for you on Facebook. If you get tempted to log in later, you can easily do so and carry on using FB. Not to mention that your data still remains on FB even if you deactivate. Think of it as turning off an appliance and later turning it on to use it.
Deleting is different. If you want every single vestige of your online identity wiped off from Facebook, this is the option to go for. Delete does what deactivating does but adds extra steps. Once you delete, you can't log in using the same credentials, and whatever photos, videos and status updates you posted will be scrubbed off Facebook's servers.
Before you delete
If you've decided to say goodbye to the world of Facebook, don't press the big red button just yet. Like the author of this story, many have been on Facebook for years now. That's years and years of memorable photos and videos. You wouldn't want to simply write off a trip to a country or even graduating from university. You'll want to save those photos and videos for later.
In order to do that, Facebook allows you to download most of the information you've uploaded. This includes posts, photos and videos you've shared; messages and chats; as well as your complete profile. Just go to Settings > General > Download a copy of your Facebook data > Start My Archive and follow the on-screen instructions. Note that this process takes a while to complete. After you've downloaded a copy of your data, store it in a flash drive for safekeeping.
Say goodbye
Now that you've got your data backed up, it's time to say goodbye. Just head over to this section of Facebook and click 'Delete My Account'. Deleting doesn't occur instantaneously but rather over a 90-day period. You're also given 14 days to log back in and reverse the process - resist the urge. Once 90 days are gone, congratulations - you're completely off Facebook.
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