How to delete a Facebook account permanently

Facebook is the largest social media platform on the planet as we know it today, but it also has been known for some other spectacular issues and problems that span from,

The Cambridge Analytica fiasco to a dozen other issues that involve privacy and security issues, and complacent attitude towards user data.

Deleting an account has never been easy, since it came to the limelight, whether you are deleting the social media superpower because of its privacy and security issues or

You've had enough of the whole thing, and would like to spend more time on something different.

Whatever be the reason for the deletion, this post is designed to provide you with everything you need to know to do exactly just that, laid out in a step-by-step approach in such a way that a four-year-old can implement (really meant it!).

But before you jump in and start dumping your account and its contents into the trash can, you should consider backing up your information (content) on the platform and be aware of some things (guidelines), so as to make an informed decision.

Here are things to note, before you go ahead deleting.

1. You will not be able to access your account, once the deletion process is completed, therefore the only way to use access the platform again, is to create a new account or login with an existing one.

2. Your profile and contents on the platform such as photos, videos, posts, and other files cannot be accessed, once the process is completed. 

As they would be deleted permanently unless you download the content before you delete it, or you halt the deletion process.

3. Apps and websites account(s) which you signed up using Facebook may not be accessed by you or would generally experience log in issues, 

Examples are Pinterest, Medium, Oculus, and SoundCloud, getting access may require that you contact the affected website and app. 

4. You'll not be able to use Messenger.

5. Messages sent to your friends on the platform can be viewed by them, as the information is store in their on inbox

6. There is a 30-days delay period, which is from the day you put in your request to have your account deleted to when it's actually deleted. 

During this period you can cancel the deletion by logging in and cancel the process, doing this would see that it is not deleted, in case you change your mind.


Now, if any of those guideline(s) doesn't seem OK to you, no worries there is another way out, this would require you have it temporarily deactivated.

Deactivating your account would see that:

1. Your content (i.e videos, photos, and posts would not be deleted).

2. You'll still be able to use Messenger

3. You can access your account, and anytime you want it back to normal you will simply reactivate it.

4. You may still have some kind of visibility on the platform, this means that your name can be seen by your friends on their friend list, and posts made by you on groups can also be seen.

5. You can log into accounts on websites and apps that you sign up with Facebook, e.g Sound Cloud, Pinterest & Medium

6. You will not be able to use or access the Oculus product or your information on Oculus.

 How to deactivate your Facebook account to learn more.

Now, let's dive in.

How to delete a Facebook account permanently on mobile (iPhone & Android).

This process is the same for Android as well as iPhone, the only difference would be located on the options button, 

Which on Android this would be located at the top right-hand corner of your screen, and on iPhone, this would be located at the bottom right corner of the screen.

Go to the site and login

  • Located and tap the three horizontal bars at the top right-hand corner of your screen on Android and on iPhone, this is located at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. 
  • From the drop-down menu, locate and tap Settings, which is located at the bottom of the page. 
  • Locate and tap Account Ownership and Control from the Facebook Information section. 
  • From the new page tap Deactivation and Deletion,
  • On the new page, select Delete account from the option provided and tap the blue Continue to Account to proceed.

On this page, you're provided with the options to choose why you want to have your membership deleted, 

  • You may choose from the options that best entry expresses your reason for deleting, but in this case, I didn't select any option and just Tap Continue to account deletion.

For those that selected a reason from the options provided, this page is just a to get you do not delete it or simply log out, and perhaps change your mind. Tap the Continue to account deletion button.

  • On this page, they're still trying to get you to back-off and keep your account (heck, it's bad for business), if you're ready to proceed, scroll down and tap Delete Account

  • Enter your password, this is security reasons (you don't want some to do this), and tap Continue
  • On this page, they state that there is a 30 day waiting period in which you can reactivate or retrieve your content (post, images, and videos) on the platform. To complete the process, tap Delete Account.




How to delete a Facebook account on a computer.

Go to the site on your browser, and login

  • Click the downward-facing triangle (more/options button)
  • From the drop-down menu select Setting & Privacy
  • From the new page click Settings
  • Located at the left side of your screen, click Your Facebook Information, this is the third option on the list.
  • Click Deactivation and Deletion from the menu located bottom right corner of your screen.
  • Select Permanently delete account, which by default is set Deactivate, tap Continue to account deletion.
  • To proceed with the deletion process tap Delete Account, on this page you're provided with the option to deactivate or backup your content.
  • Enter your password as requested, this is to saves your account from intrusion.
  • To complete the process just tap account.


How to delete a Facebook account permanently on the App, Lite, and Messenger 

Basically, the process is the same for these apps (Facebook Lite, App, Messenger) on whether you're Android OS or Apple IOS both are the same,

The only difference is the location of the more or options button of the App and Lite, which on Android it's located on the top right-hand corner of the screen, while on iPhone this is located on the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

Open the App on your phone

  • On the App and Lite, tap the three horizontal bars (options tab)

For Messenger, Tap the image icon to open the options menu.

  • Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy for App and Lite apps

Skip this step for Messenger.

  • Tap Settings from the new menu.
  • On the new page, scroll down, locate and Tap Account Ownership and Control from Your Facebook Information section.
  • Tap Deactivation and deletion on the new page.

For Messenger, tap Continue to account deactivation and deletion on the page

  • Select Delete Account, by default this is set to Deactivate, Tap Continue to Account Deletion.
  • You may select from the options the reason why you want to delete it. You can choose any reason that suits departure or just simply hit the Continue to Account Deletion button to proceed.
  • Just scroll down and tap delete account to continue.
  • Enter your password, to proceed.

  • Tap the delete account button to complete the process, on this page they state that there is a 30 days delay period before it's finally deleted.


Note

1. If you change your mind and want to continue with your account, you can cancel the deletion request 30 days from the day that it was requested, to actually cancel this process and get your account back, you just need to log in, during this period and once you logged in to cancel the deletion.

Note that you have to log in and cancel the process for this to work, and just logging into your would not cut it.

2. The deletion process takes some time to settle in, this takes up to 90 days (3 months) from the day you deleted it, to when all of your contents is actually deleted out their domain, but during the period your is not available to other users.

Are you mad about that? It gets a little interesting, Facebook also states on their site that the information may remain on their database after the 90 days has expired.

"Copies of your information may remain after the 90 days in backup storage that we use to recover in the event of a disaster, software error, or other data loss event. We may also keep your information for things like legal issues, terms violations, or harm prevention efforts."

Wow!!! (Sounding interesting!)

To learn more about how they treat user's information  CLICK HERE to check out their Data policy.

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