Delete Facebook, Instagram & Threads: A Complete Guide

Growing Interest in Leaving Meta Platforms

Following Meta's choice to dismantle its external fact-checking network and relax content oversight, there has been a noticeable increase in Google searches related to deleting accounts from Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Individuals expressing dissatisfaction with this decision allege that Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is prioritizing alignment with the Trump administration. This, they contend, risks transforming the company’s social media platforms into environments even more prone to the spread of misinformation and divisive rhetoric.

Concerns Over Free Speech and Consistency

Zuckerberg’s statements suggesting that the company’s previous fact-checking partners exhibited excessive political bias, conflicting with his vision of unrestricted “free expression,” have further fueled these concerns.

Since the announcement, numerous users have highlighted perceived contradictions in Zuckerberg’s recently adopted stance on free speech. Meta acknowledged in January that it had restricted access to Pixelfed, a platform competing with Instagram.

Notably, Instagram implemented blocks on searches for specific political hashtags – including #democrats and #jan6th – shortly after Zuckerberg attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Global Implications and Future Uncertainty

Users residing outside the United States are also evaluating their alternatives. Meta has indicated that fact-checking services will be maintained in international markets “for the time being,” but this situation is subject to change.

Meta's Strategy and User Response

Zuckerberg has articulated a desire to revert to the original concept of Facebook and intends to update the Facebook platform this year to attract younger demographics (Gen Z).

The success of this strategy remains questionable, especially considering that the potential prohibition of TikTok has not driven young users towards Meta’s services, but rather to alternative Chinese applications like RedNote.

It is likely that many will not remain to experience Zuckerberg’s interpretation of “cultural influence.”

Considering an Exit?

If you find yourself, like many others, frustrated with Meta’s algorithms and their tendency to amplify reactions to [insert cultural or political issue here], and are concerned about the company’s data collection practices for AI training and targeted advertising, consider the following steps.

Bonus: Leaving X

Here's how to delete your X account and move forward.

Obtaining Your Facebook Archive

For users intending to permanently delete – rather than simply deactivate – their Facebook account, it is advisable to first download a copy of their personal data. This archive encompasses a comprehensive record, including photographs, current login sessions, message logs, IP addresses utilized, facial recognition data, and a history of advertisements interacted with.

Please be aware that this process necessitates the use of a computer and a standard web browser; mobile devices are not supported.

The following steps outline the procedure:

• Navigate to the down-facing arrow located beneath your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Select Settings & Privacy, then choose Settings from the dropdown menu.
• Within the left-hand sidebar, scroll down until you reach the Your information section, and then click on Download your information.
• You will then be directed to the Accounts Center. Proceed by clicking Continue.
• Upon the appearance of the subsequent window, select Download or transfer information.
• You will be presented with options to specify the accounts from which you wish to download information, including Facebook, Instagram, and Meta Horizon. Click Next.
• Determine the scope of the information you require, and then click Next. Facebook notes: “Selecting Specific types of information allows you to refine your download to include data logs.”
• Indicate whether you prefer to download the information to your local device or directly transfer it to an alternative destination, and then click Next.
  • If you opt for Transfer to destination, you can select the desired destination and schedule future data transfers. After making your selection, click Start transfer and enter your Facebook password.
  • Should you choose Download to device, configure your desired file settings. You will be able to define a specific date range, select either HTML or JSON as the file format, and choose the media quality (high, medium, or low).
• Finally, click Submit request to initiate the download process.

The requested archive will then be prepared and made available for download, allowing you to retain a copy of your Facebook data before account deletion.

Deleting Your Facebook Account: A Comprehensive Guide

It's important to understand that once your Facebook account is deleted, access cannot be restored. Facebook implements a delay before permanent deletion, typically a few days, and will revert the process if you reactivate your account during this period.

Furthermore, be aware that certain data, such as message content, may remain accessible to your contacts even after account deletion. This is due to how messaging history is stored.

Considering these points, the following steps outline the account deletion process:

• Begin by selecting your profile picture, located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
• Navigate to Settings & Privacy, then select Settings.
• Within the settings menu, click on Accounts Center, positioned at the top left.
• Proceed to click Personal details, found under the Account Settings section.
• Select Account ownership and control from the options presented.
• Choose Deactivation or deletion to initiate the process.
• Identify and select the specific account or profile you wish to delete.
• Opt for Delete account to proceed with the deletion request.
• Click Continue and carefully follow the on-screen prompts to finalize confirmation.

Important Considerations Before Deletion

Deleting your Facebook account is a permanent action. Ensure you have downloaded any important data, such as photos and videos, before proceeding.

Remember that deleting your account does not automatically delete your information from Facebook’s systems entirely. Some data may be retained for a period for legal or operational reasons.

Understanding the Deletion Timeline

After submitting your deletion request, Facebook will initiate a waiting period. This allows you to cancel the request if you change your mind.

If you do not log back into your account during the waiting period, your account and all associated data will be permanently deleted.

Downloading Your Instagram Data

Instagram provides two distinct pathways for accessing the page dedicated to downloading your personal information: through the Accounts Center or directly via your Instagram Settings. Utilizing the Accounts Center, proceed to Your information and permissions and then select Download your information.

Alternatively, access Instagram Settings by tapping the three horizontal lines located in the bottom-left corner of your screen. From there, choose Your activity…

Both methods will direct you to the Download your information page. You will then be prompted to specify the profiles from which you wish to retrieve your data.

Furthermore, you must indicate whether you prefer to download the information to your device or facilitate a direct transfer to another specified location.

Choosing Download to device necessitates selecting a desired date range, providing a notification email address, determining the format for your download request, and configuring the quality settings for photos, videos, and other media – mirroring the process for Facebook data downloads.

Following these selections, click Create files to initiate the process.

The submitted request will be displayed as In progress within the Current Activity tab of the Download your information tool. Instagram will send both an email and an in-app notification once the download is complete.

You will have a four-day window to download your information after it has been processed.

Instagram Account Deletion: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you already downloaded your data? If so, you can proceed with the permanent removal of your account.

The following instructions detail the process for web-based deletion:

• Navigate directly to the Accounts ownership and control settings within the Accounts Center.
• Select the Deactivation or deletion option.
• Choose the specific Instagram account you wish to remove.
• Click Delete account and then confirm your choice by clicking Continue.

Should you decide to reactivate your Instagram presence in the future, you may be able to re-register using your original username, provided it hasn't been claimed by another user.

Understanding Account Deletion

Deleting your account is a permanent action. All of your photos, videos, and associated information will be irrevocably removed.

It's important to ensure you've backed up any content you wish to retain before initiating the deletion process.

Reactivation Possibilities

While deletion is permanent, Instagram allows for potential reactivation under certain conditions.

If your username remains available, you can sign up again using the same credentials.

Deleting Your Threads Account: A Step-by-Step Guide

It's important to understand that deleting your Instagram account will also result in the deletion of your associated Threads profile.

However, if you wish to remove only Threads, the process must be initiated through the Threads.net website on a computer. The following steps will guide you through this process:

• Navigate to the bottom left corner of the page and click the two parallel lines. This will open the settings menu.
• Within the settings, select Settings.
• At the top of the settings menu, click Account, then choose Deactivate or delete profile.
• Select Delete profile to begin the account removal process.
• Carefully follow the on-screen instructions and ultimately click Delete Threads profile to confirm.

Please be aware that the deletion request will take up to 30 days to be fully processed. Should you wish to reactivate Threads using the same Instagram account, a waiting period of 90 days will apply.

This article was initially published on January 10, 2025, and will be continually updated to reflect any changes.