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If you are planning to completely abstain from social media, or maybe just looking to take a break for a while, a lot of questions may roam around in your mind. Perhaps you might be concerned about all your memories, photos, and videos that you have saved for these years. Deciding to say goodbye to Facebook can be a big move, but knowing how to save your data, no matter if you are deleting or deactivating can make it easier.
So, if you just need to remove your presence from social media for a while, or if you simply consider keeping your file safe, here’s what you can do. This guide will provide you with step-by-step methods, from backing up your data to deleting or deactivating your account.
Deactivating vs Deleting your Facebook account– Are they the same?
Deactivating your Facebook account is a short-term action, which means you can come back when you change your mind. When you deactivate your account, your profile becomes invisible to other users. It will not appear on search, and no one can interact with your account, send messages, or access your photos and posts. But when you deactivate your account, you will not lose your data instead all your data, photos, and posts are preserved. When you come back after the break, you can simply log in, and everything will be restored.
Deleting your Facebook account on the other hand is a permanent decision. When you confirm to delete your account, then you will not be able to access or recover any of your data, photos, or memories. Moreover, the account will be permanently deleted from Facebook’s server. Anyhow Facebook allows its users to restore their account for a short period, beyond that your data will be lost forever.
Before you decide to delete or deactivate your account, think of your purpose and then decide. Before deleting your account, extract and save your data so that you will not lose it.
Read More: OpenSocial Faces Off with Facebook
How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account?
Consider deactivating your account as an option if you are planning to take a break from social media and come back after a while. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to deactivate your Facebook account.
Step 1: Go to Settings
- Open Facebook and sign in with your credentials.
- Click the arrow icon in the upper-right corner of your homepage.
- Select settings and privacy, then click on settings.
Step 2: Access Account Management
- Click privacy in the left sidebar
- Select your Facebook Information
- Scroll down to the last and click on Deactivation and deletion
Step 3: Choose to Deactivate
- Choose Deactivate Account
- Click on Continue to Account Deactivation
Step 4: Confirmation
- You will have to enter your password and provide a reason for leaving.
- Confirm your choice by clicking on Deactivate.
With these steps, your Facebook account will be deactivated. You can keep your account deactivated as long as you want and reactivate it anytime.
Reactivating is simple: Just log in back to your Facebook account with your username and password.
How to delete your Facebook account?
This will lead to the permanent deletion of your account. You will lose all your data, photos, and posts in your account. If you have decided to completely cut ties with Facebook, here is a step-by-step guide to delete your account.
Step 1: Backup your data
Before you delete your account, you may have to back up your data such as photos, videos, and posts. Otherwise, you may lose them all as you delete your account. You can download Facebook data by:
- Go to settings and privacy and select settings
- Click your Facebook Information
- Select Download your information and select the data you want to save
Step 2: Back to Delete option
- Tap the menu button in the top right corner to select Settings and privacy
- Click see more in the account center
- Click on Personal details then tap Ownership and control
Step 3: Choose to Account Deletion
- Tap the Deactivation or Deletion button
- Choose the account you want to delete
- Tap Delete Account and click continue
Step 4: Confirmation
- Facebook will prompt the consequences of deletion
- After that, enter your password and confirm by clicking Delete Account.
Once you delete your Facebook account, you will get a 30-day grace period. During this time, you can log in back to your account with the username and password and cancel the deletion. After 30 days, this option will no longer be available. Your account and all the data associated with will be permanently deleted.
How to delete your Facebook Messenger?
Deleting your Facebook account will not simultaneously delete your Facebook Messenger. If you have to remove your messenger along with Facebook, here is how:
- Follow the steps listed above to either deactivate or delete your Facebook account
- Open Messenger and scroll to settings
- Select Legal and Policies
- Tap Deactivate Messenger.
You can deactivate your Messenger account if your Facebook account is also deactivated.
Are there any alternatives?
If privacy is your reason for this action, then you might not need to delete or deactivate your account. Facebook offers several alternatives to preserve your privacy by controlling who can see your profile, post, and comment on it.
- Go to settings and privacy, select settings, then privacy, and then click on Your activity. Under this, choose ‘Who can see your future posts?’ Select Friends, Public, or Only Me to determine your audience. This doesn’t require deletion or deactivation. You can still keep posting with any more privacy concerns.
- If you want to minimize your screen time without completely deleting or deactivating, you may limit your online presence and engagement with some strategies. Facebook allows its users to limit notifications by tapping on settings and privacy. You may also use a browser extension like News Feed Eradicator to remove the Facebook feed to reduce scrolling. Another effective method is to uninstall the Facebook app. Without immediate access, you may be less tempted to use it frequently.
Also Read: Google Messages Enhances Scam Detection With AI Tools
Conclusion
Deleting or Deactivating a Facebook account is a completely personal choice that aligns with your individual needs. For those who want to abstain for a while from the hassle created by social media, deactivation is a flexible option. It allows you to stay away without losing any of your data. You can step back for a while and return when you are ready.
Deleting your account is a bolder step. Anyhow Facebook allows a 30-day grace period to recover your account. Consider backing up your data, memories, posts, and videos before deletion to preserve the data. Apart from deletion and deactivation, Facebook offers additional settings like privacy checks, protecting personal data, and restricting audience limits.
