Following Meta’s decision to remove its third-party data control system and relax its content moderation policies, Google searches on how to delete Facebook, Instagram and Threads have increased.
People angered by the decision accuse Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of pandering to the incoming Trump administration at the expense of turning the company’s social media platforms into hotbeds of misinformation and polarization. Zuckerberg’s remarks that the company’s third-party fact-checkers were “too politically biased” for his vision of “free speech” probably didn’t help matters.
So if, like countless others, you’ve had it with Meta’s algorithms driving you into a frenzy. [insert cultural or political issue here] and you’re tired of the company obfuscating your data to train its AI or target ads, then read on.
How to download your Facebook file
If you are really ready to delete (and not just deactivate) your Facebook account, you should download your personal information from Facebook archives, which includes photos, active sessions, chat history, IP addresses, data facial recognition and ads you clicked on.
Note that these instructions require a computer and web browser, not a mobile phone.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Click the down arrow below your profile picture in the upper right corner.
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Scroll down the left column until you reach Your detailsand click Download your information.
- You will be prompted to visit it Account Center. Click Continue.
- When the pop-up window appears, click Download or transfer information.
- You can choose information from which accounts, including your Facebook, Instagram and Meta Horizon accounts, to download. Click Next.
- Select how much information you want to receive and click Next. Note from FB: “If you select Specific types of information, you will be able to select the types of information you want to receive, including data logs.”
- Decide whether you want to download your information to a device or transfer your information directly to a destination and click Next.
- If you choose Transfer to destinationyou can choose the destination and schedule future transfers. Once you’ve made your selection, click Start transfer and enter your Facebook profile password.
- If you choose Download to deviceselect your file options. There will be a list that allows you to create a date range and you can download in HTML or JSON and choose between high, medium or low media quality.
- Click Submit a request.
How to delete your Facebook account
Note: If you delete your account, you cannot access it again. Facebook delays deletion for a few days after it is requested and will cancel your deletion request if you log back into Facebook during this time.
It’s also worth noting that some information like your message history isn’t stored in your account, so your friends may still have access to the messages you sent after you delete your account.
With that in mind, here’s how to do it:
- Click on your profile picture in the upper right corner.
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Click Account Center at the top left of the screen.
- Click Personal informationunder Account Settings.
- Click Account ownership and control.
- Click Disable or delete.
- Select the account or profile you want to deactivate.
- Choose Account Deactivation.
- Click Continue and follow the instructions to confirm.
How to download your Instagram info
There are two ways to find the website where you will download your Instagram information Account Center or your Instagram settings. For the first, go to Your details and rights to find Download your information. To go to Instagram Settings, click the three parallel lines at the bottom left of your screen, then click Your activity…
Any of these steps will get you to Download your information page. You will need to click on the profiles you want to download your information from and choose whether you want to download it to a device or transfer the information directly to another destination.
If you choose Download to deviceyou’ll need to choose a date range, a notification email, the format of the download request, and the quality of photos, videos, and other media — just like downloading your Facebook information. Then click Create files.
Once you submit the request, it will appear as In progress under the Current Activity tab at Download your information tool. Instagram will notify you by email and in the app when it’s ready to use, and you’ll have four days to download the information.
How to delete your Instagram account
Have you downloaded your details? Now you are ready to delete permanently.
See how you can do it on the website:
- Go directly to Account ownership and control settings in the Accounts Center.
- Click Disable or delete.
- Click on the account you want to delete.
- Click Delete accountand then click Continue.
Once your account is deleted, you can register with the same username, if it’s still available, if you’ve changed your mind.
How to delete your Threads account
Note: If you delete the Instagram account associated with your Threads profile, your Threads profile will also be deleted.
But to delete just Threads, you’ll need to go to Threads.net on a computer and follow these steps:
- Click the two parallel lines at the bottom left of the page, then click Settings.
- Click Account so at the top Disable or delete profile.
- Click Delete profile.
- Follow the prompts that appear, and then click Delete thread profile.
It will take 30 days to complete the deletion request. And if you want to register with the same Instagram profile, you will have to wait 90 days.
