How to delete (not deactivate) your Facebook account
In case you haven’t heard the news, Canada’s privacy commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, has some strong words for Facebook on its privacy practices (or lack thereof). Here we address one of her concerns.
In case you haven't heard the news, Canada's privacy commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, has some strong words for Facebook on its privacy practices (or lack thereof). Here we address one of her concerns.
The mega-popular social networking tool — used by more than 200 million people worldwide (12 million of whom are in Canada…yes, 1 in 3 Canadians) – isn't doing enough to protect the privacy of its users, says Canada's privacy commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart.
One issue is how much information we're divulging to third-party developers in order to use their "free" applications — from vampire bites to Scrabble games — and how little Facebook monitors or enforces this exchange of information (and what's being done with it). As we've written on Sync in the past, be cautious about what info you're giving away when you sign up for Food Fight, Movie Trivia or the other gazillion so-called "free" apps.
The other issue is about account deactivation versus deletion. It's fairly easy to deactivate your account, but your information still resides on Facebook's servers because, as Facebook says, roughly half of people who decide they don't want a Facebook profile page change their mind and reactivate it. Stoddard says this shouldn't be the case.
Deleting the account, though, isn't as clear to Facebook users. So, we're here to help:
If you really want to remove yourself from the Facebook community, then click this link, sign into your account (with password) and then type in your email address into the window.
Facebook warns, however:
If you do not think you will use Facebook again and would like your account deleted, we can take care of this for you. Keep in mind that you will not be able to reactivate your account or retrieve any of the content or information you have added. If you would like your account deleted, then click "Submit."
So, what do you think about Facebook's alleged privacy issues? Does this new information want you to stop using the service? Or do you trust your information is in safe hands?
Filed Under: Computers & Software > Featured Posts
I have been trying to delete my Facebook account since the weekend.I type in my email address and "submit" then on a new screen it gives me a place to type in my password, which I do, and a place to re-type two words with a space in between, which I do. However when I do this it just keeps looping back and making me enter my password and type two more words.I have done this ten times or more and then gave up and logged out. I tried changing my password and doing it with my new password but the same thing happens. It is a Kafka nightmare. I didn't even want to join Facebook but got an email from Facebook saying my daughter's boyfriend invited me on to his Facebook. I didn't realize when I signed up to get on to his that it meant I, myself, had joined up….
(Report comment)
I’m trying to do the same thing Sally with no luck. If you find that the problem is fixed, plase reply! p.s. Have you tried Goggle your name recently?? OMG! Scary!
I think I need to hire a good lawyer!
(Report comment)
Josh-what you have to do is log into your facebook for one last time! You can go to the Contact Us link at the top of the page (at least that’s what I did last year, not sure if it’s changed). But there has to be an e-mail address for admin for facebook somewhere. E-mail them from the e-mail account that you login with. Tell them that you want your profile deleted TODAY-Not in 14 days, TODAY!! They have to listen to you, it’s your right if you want it gone today.
You should have a responce within 24 hours that your profile is gone!
Good Luck–leaving facecrack is the best thing I ever did!
Cheers
(Report comment)
Yeah, me too…what the heck! I log in and it just wont work. it does the same thing you are cmplaining about…!!!
How have other peopel gotten it to work???
(Report comment)
I am also trying to delete my face book account because I can get no help on how to use it. My password keeps coming up wrong when I try to deactivate. What should I do?
(Report comment)
I don't know what the big deal is over this is, I mean everything you view gets stored on the computer viewing it in a temporary file, so it's going to be around somewhere, if i click on your profile or anything on the net it get's stored in your history. So again what is the big deal over this, people just need to be better educated of how things work when they post stuff, sure face book might delete from their server, but if I did delete my temporary files your profile is still in existance, well the parts that were viewed are.
(Report comment)
@Sally: You have to log into your account to be able to delete it.
(Report comment)
I have the same problem as Sally. Duh, you can’t even get to the screen unless you are logged in. The problem is that you have to enter your password a second time, but fb will not accept. I think a class action lawsuit is needed here.
(Report comment)
i don't know why every time some 1 has to find fault when ppl are interacting with each other.Personally if u want to be on this kind of web site u should be smart enough to not put personal info on ur profile.Be safe & all will be safe.I thought this country was a democratic country but i see it's getting worse through the yrs.What is coming up with facebook on t.v & computer is just rediculous!!!!
(Report comment)
I hardly think posting my favourite movies and the like will come back to haunt me. Yes, Facebook does require users to enter their birthdays to verify they are old enough to use the service (however those parameters were determined). I guess my real issue here is not what I've chosen to share about myself via Facebook or any online service, but the real hypocrisy is that the government reserves the right to and does post its citizens' information online (Canada 411, e.g.). Honestly, I'm not sure I want to know how many retrieval systems our governments use. The fact is, every time you enter a contest or fill out a survey, even with companies or organizations you like, there's no guarantee they'll handle that info in accordance with your standards. I entered CBC's fantasy pool during the playoffs, and I knew the risks involved. At least in that case, as well as with Facebook, I controlled what info got posted. Why hasn't this issue confronted the non-voluntary management of our personal details?
(Report comment)
I do believe that the author meant used by more than 200 million people world wide; not "used by more than 200 people world wide". ^^
(Report comment)
so facebook has more than 200 users worldwide….great proof read
(Report comment)
I'm starting to consider deleting my facebook account, there seem to be far too many "privacy glitches." Besides how many of the people on your friends list do you actually talk to and how many are just there as a number?
(Report comment)
I find the thing that really ticks me off is the invitations falsely put forward. "Someone you know has sent you a card" so you try to open the card and in order to do so you have to submit your cell phone number. SORRY if you want that I don't need to open the card!!! This also applies to Quizzes etc. when you want private info I don't need you!!
(Report comment)
What privacy? You make a Facebook account with your real name. How private is it expected to be? Thanks for pretending to care about privacy, it's touching.
(Report comment)
Ok, so I tried deleting my account… however each time I did this came up "Password/Captcha Incorrect. Try again"… i know what my password to get onto Facebook was, I even tried changing it by re-activating my account then de-activating it again. And I can read the Captcha just fine, so why won't it let me delete my account??? Help please!!!!
(Report comment)
why would you want hundreds of poeple knowing what your doing anyways having a facebook profile is just a cry for attention its immature
(Report comment)
WTH.. i tried to delete my account and stupid fb wont let me.. they say those stupid captcha are wrong.. i guess they'll do anything do keep people hooked on it.. bastards!
(Report comment)
I just deleted my account with no problem following the link given.It said it would be permanently deleted within 14 days but if I log into my account before then it will be reactivated. Makes sense to me they give you a chance to change your mind
(Report comment)
I tried about 15 times to delete my facebook account and it keeps giving me the message "Password/Captcha Incorrect. Try again".
My account has been deactivated for 2 years. I did not remember my password so I asked to reset it. I got the above message when putting in my password and typing the 2 words.
I reactivated my account and tried to delete it. Still the same message.
I opened my file and tried to delete. Same message.
I logged out and tried to delete. Same message.
I think it is just as always – you cannot get off of facebook. I just wasted a lot of time because I believed you in your article that I can delete my account. If you don't know for sure what you are saying I think you should say nothing and save everyone a lot of time and trouble.
I'm just going to deactivate the account again.
(Report comment)
DONE! i guess you did have to be logged on. Thanks Natalie
Its not even about privacy anymore.. its just pointless.. i cant limit everyone from telling me about their lives, so im moving on with mine. Have a great one!
(Report comment)
Yup this was simple, the directions above are CLEAR. you must log in first on a different tab or page and then click the link. Finally Facebook Free!
(Report comment)
I tried one final time and I got to delete my account.
I went into my account and asked the question in some help/search box "how do I delete my account". They referred me to a page that looked exactly the same as all the others I had tried before, but when I put in my password and typed the 2 words this time it worked. Great!
Thank you very much for this information on how to delete your facebook account.
(Report comment)
somebody should start a class action lawsuit against these people at facebook
(Report comment)
Why, for providing a service you enter into voluntarily, knowing as any reasonable person does that any information you put on the internet anywhere has the potential to be viewed by others.
(Report comment)
I have tried deleting my facebook account and it won't let me – keep getting the same message that the words or captcha incorrect which is a lot of hooey – facebook is just not allowing the deletion
(Report comment)
this link doesnt work i just says i typed in my password or the scrambled letters wrong tried 10 times with mine an girfriends account didnt work
(Report comment)
Coincidently, I decided a few days ago to delete my account. The privacy issues have only a small part to do with it. My decision is based more on the sheer mundanity of Facebook, that is not only flabbergasting, but time consuming and brain numbing. Social networks are aiding in the cheapening and dumbing down of society. I'm tired of reading something like "Your a nice guy." I didn't know I had a "nice guy" and what about mine, anyway? I agree that this isn't the whole, but it certainly appears to be the norm.
(Report comment)