Following Meta’s choice to dismantle its third-party fact-checking network and ease its content moderation guidelines, there has been a notable increase in Google searches regarding how to delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts.
Frustrated individuals are targeting Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, accusing him of aligning too closely with the Trump administration and thus transforming the company’s social media platforms into even larger breeding grounds for misinformation and divisive discourse. Zuckerberg’s assertion that the third-party fact-checkers were “too politically biased” conflicts with his stated intention of fostering “free expression,” which has likely fueled the backlash.
In the aftermath of Meta’s announcement, many users have raised concerns about inconsistencies surrounding Zuckerberg’s new stance on free speech. In mid-January, Meta acknowledged that it had removed links to Pixelfed, a rival to Instagram. Just days after Zuckerberg attended Donald Trump’s inauguration, Instagram blocked searches for several political hashtags like #democrats and #jan6th.
Users outside the U.S. may also be weighing their options. For now, Meta claims it will retain fact-checkers in regions outside the U.S., but this could potentially change.
Zuckerberg has expressed a desire to revert to “OG Facebook” and is planning to revamp the Facebook experience to attract Gen Z. The success of Meta’s efforts is still uncertain, especially since TikTok’s possible ban has led younger users to seek alternatives, such as other Chinese apps like RedNote. Many users may not remain to discover what Zuckerberg means by being “culturally influential.”
If you find yourself among the countless individuals frustrated by Meta’s algorithms amplifying [insert cultural or political issue here] and weary of the company harvesting your data for AI training or targeted ads, keep reading.
(Plus: Here’s how to delete your accounts and move on with your life)
How to download your Facebook archive
If you’re determined to delete (rather than just deactivate) your Facebook account, it is essential to download your personal data from Facebook archives, which encompass photos, active sessions, chat history, IP addresses, facial recognition information, and ads you’ve engaged with.
Please note that these instructions necessitate a computer and web browser, rather than a mobile device.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Select the downward arrow below your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
- Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Scroll down the left column to find Your information, and click Download your information.
- You will be prompted to go to the Accounts Center. Click Continue.
- When the pop-up appears, select Download or transfer information.
- Choose which accounts you wish to download information from, including your Facebook, Instagram, and Meta Horizon accounts, then click Next.
- Decide how much information you want to download, and click Next. Note from Facebook: “If you select Specific types of information, you will be able to choose which types of information you wish to download, including data logs.”
- Determine if you want to download your information to a device or directly transfer it, and click Next.
- If you choose Transfer to destination, you can designate the destination and schedule future transfers. After making your selection, click Start transfer and provide your Facebook profile password.
- If you opt for Download to device, select your file options. You’ll find a list for creating a date range, and you can download in HTML or JSON format while selecting high, medium, or low media quality.
- Click Submit request.
How to delete your Facebook account
Please note: If you proceed with account deletion, regaining access will be impossible. Facebook will delay the deletion process for several days after the request is initiated and will cancel the deletion process if you log back into Facebook during that window.
Additionally, some information, such as messaging history, may not be retained in your account, meaning your friends may still access messages you sent even after your account is erased.
With that in mind, here are the steps to delete your account:
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Select Accounts Center in the top left corner.
- Click on Personal details, located under Account Settings.
- Select Account ownership and control.
- Choose Deactivation or deletion.
- Select the account or profile you wish to deactivate.
- Click on Delete account.
- Proceed by clicking Continue and follow the prompted instructions to confirm.
How to download your Instagram information
Once your data is downloaded, you can proceed toward permanent deletion.
There are two ways to navigate to the page for downloading your Instagram data: via the Accounts Center or through Instagram Settings. If you opt for the former, go to Your information and permissions to locate Download your information. If you choose to access it through Instagram Settings, click on the three horizontal lines at the bottom left of your screen, then select Your activity…
Either option will lead you to the Download your information page. Here, you’ll need to specify which profiles to download information from and decide if you’d like to download it to a device or transfer it somewhere else.
If you opt to Download to device, you’ll have to specify a date range, notification email, the format for your download, and photo and video quality—similar to the process for downloading your Facebook data. After setting your preferences, click Create files.
Once your request is made, it will show as In progress under the Current Activity section in the Download your information tool. Instagram will notify you via email and on the app when your data is ready to be downloaded, after which you will have a four-day window to get it.
How to delete your Instagram account
Once you’ve secured your data, it’s time to finalize the deletion.
Here’s how to do it through the website:
- Go directly to Accounts ownership and control settings in the Accounts Center.
- Click on Deactivation or deletion.
- Choose the account you wish to delete.
- Select Delete account, followed by Continue.
After deletion, should you wish to re-register with the same username later, you can do so if it remains available.
How to delete your Threads account
Be aware that deleting the Instagram account linked to your Threads profile will also erase your Threads profile.
However, if your aim is to solely delete Threads, access the Threads.net website on a computer and follow these steps:
- Click the two parallel lines in the bottom left corner of the page, and select Settings.
- Select Account at the top, then choose Deactivate or delete profile.
- Click on Delete profile.
- Follow the subsequent prompts before clicking on Delete Threads profile.
Your deletion request will take a period of 30 days to process, and you will need to wait 90 days if you wish to sign back up with the same Instagram profile.
This article was initially published on January 10, 2025, and will be updated regularly.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
Fanpage: TechArena.au
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