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?
i have been wanting yo get out of face book for a long time but could not ! So does this mean if i delete my account its gone for ever?? this is what i want i did not understand how they could still keep every thing account and all opened even if i did not want it! I was like a prisoner & they had the key. I hope this is solved. Polly
last week my husband was playing a game on a website (not facebook) and while playing he saw on one of their ad banners on the top ,an ad with My picture(my facebook pic) and my first name "saying some inappriate thing"also my nephews name(one of my facebooks friends)
He and I were shocked! how the heck to that all get there?
Hubby is not a fan of facebook and Im a fairly new user who assured him ,that all my info was not shared with the worldwide web,just my friends!Now I see its not!!
If third partys already have your info ,how will deleting your facebook account help now?
Can't seem to cancel this account as the scrambled words keep reappearing over and over again as wrong!!!!!
"The mega-popular social networking tool — used by more than 200 people worldwide (12 million of whom are in Canada…yes, 1 in 3 Canadians)"
Math major or sloppy proof reader?
This world has gotten ridiculous…
I cant believe theyre trying to shut down face book because of its overwhelming popularity.
A man was charged for over downloading… LOL Like wtf, do these actors/ess and musicans FORGET Who made them? So theyre washed up has beens that are broke and now cry over free downloads of their stuff. I say, lets stop going to see movies/or buying DVD, and stop buying CD's, lets see how fast they change their tune. I suspect we'd all be getting free downloads just to get us back so they can have their allowances again.
Whats gonna happen next?? too funny
This article is pretty useless, it asks what do we think of the privacy issue without really commenting on what the privacy issues are.Very little background work done here. Just saying there is a privacy issue and letting us know that facebook is popular is not informing. Pretty half assed job by Marc Saltzman.
Awal,
I linked to the ARTICLE that expands on what the privacy issues are…and I did summarize them here in the BLOG post. But as the headline says, this post is to teach you how to delete your account if you want to (and why).
Cheers,
Marc Saltzman
Sogwili:
You sound sound like an idiot!
Whoops…thanks for catching the typo…I forgot the word "million" (in "200 million") so I added it in.
And yes, per the instructions, you need to log in first and then type in your email address. If you didn't need to log in first you could delete a friend (or rather, an enemy's) Facebook account without their permission! Now THAT would be a privacy issue.
Marc
This doesn't work at all….it just keeps looping around and around. What gives ?
I tried to delete FC account a while ago. I had to go thru the same mix-up as all of U. Finally, I got the message saying I had opted out of FC. Sometime later I logged in to my account; thinking it would be obsulete. Surprise! It was still valid. I don't like the thought of "anyone" getting into my site. Where is the privacy? It's OK for friends but strangers can see your site during games, & such.Not good.
Yes, It finally worked – click on the link, sign into facebook then follow instructions – facebook is supposed to delete within fourteen days according to their message as long as I don't try and login in that period, which will reactiviate the account
Thank you Marc Saltzman!!!
No I do not feel safe using facebook and won't be trusting it no matter what changes they make! Have sent and will continue to send the articles to friends with facebook and let them make informed decisions about staying with it or not !
Tried tp permanetly delete my facebook account but it still will not let me by making the words to type out difficult and when I thought I had it right it still denied me.
For those having trouble deleting their FB account : You have to log into your account. Then go to the bottom of the page, Select Help, then do a search on the word "delete", select the option deactivate or delete account, clink the link to delete. Type your password and the two other words, the you will get a message saying that your account will be deleted in 14 days.
Deleting the account seems almost pointless at this late date as those who are accessing the information already have what they want from our existing accounts. I'm sure these criminals have a system in place to alert them to the info they are looking for. An interesting study would be to see how many proven instances of identity theft originated from this site. If the origin of the obtained information is found to have come from this site, then have Facebook owners charged as accessories to the crime since they are entrusted with the information.
A smarter idea would be NOT to post your life in a public forum. Use untracable information such as email adresses from general sites like hotmail or gmail as opposed to homebased providers like your local phone comapny where your home address can be traced. Use major centers as your city instead of the small town you come from. And for heaven's sake don't enter your home phone numbers – skip all OPTIONAL boxes – the people who love and care about you already know your home phone number! The problem with many people on these sites is that they choose to broadcast their information. Those who are silly enough to post their multiple daily activities are just asking for trouble. One "friend" linked to my account posts her movements every couple of hours – things like at work, on the bus, walking home. This individual is even silly enough to have her work address POSTED. She might as well have a billboard that says "Here I am, come get me!"
My point is yes Facebook should be held responsible for the security of "required" information entrusted to them BUT we as individuals have a responsibility to ensure that any and all optional information we are posting doesn't put us at risk – either in person or financially through identity theft.
never have been a facebook believer. find the whole thing anti social! go out and have coffee with people do not hind inside kisssing a computer! and you are just know realizing the infringement of privacy please people facebook has told the world that everything you put on the site even if you designed for your use belongs to them. once on the site forever damaging. even the pics from that frat party cost you the job you so wanted!
Want to delete yur FB account, simple, hire a hacker, get him/her to hack into the Facebook servers, & delete your account, if FB won't let you do it, someone should.
Unfortunately, to view other Facebook entries you have to sign up yourself. I did so only to see what my niece had posted. As soon as I signed up I wanted to delete my account. It wasn't until now that I have been able to do so. My decision was not about privacy; but about getting rid of accounts I don't use. Yes, I could have left it there; but I was taught to clean up after myself. I dislike the fact that Facebook keeps the information when you deactivate an account. By the way, they also keep your information active for a full fourteen (14) days after you delete the account just in case you change your mind.
In regards to privacy concerns – it's all about being caucious of what information you give out – if you don't want anybody seeing private information – it's easy, don't give it.