Facebook states that over 3 billion people and 180 million businesses worldwide use their website. While it’s clear that Facebook is accessible across the globe, your friends, family, or coworkers might not utilize it that often. If you’re in the U.S., note that most Facebook users are from outside of the country. This fact might explain why you have less engagement on Facebook compared to other apps. 

That being said, you might want to step away from Facebook’s platform to dedicate more time to other social media accounts. Or perhaps you’re trying to spend less time on social media in general. In this day and age, it’s easy to forget that we can obtain information and entertainment from old fashion books too. Spending less time attached to our screens is a goal many of us are striving for as we realize just how many hours we spend each day on our phones.

The U.S. Bureau of Statistics estimates that, on average, people will spend six years and seven months of their lifetime on social media. From this data and other research, they’ve also estimated one year and seven months of that time will be for Facebook. 

Whatever your reasoning may be, here’s how you can permanently delete any Facebook account, page, or group.

Delete or Deactivate

It’s incredibly important to know the difference between deleting and deactivating a Facebook account, page, or group before you decide because deleting a Facebook account is permanent. Every photo, status, friend, and other data will be entirely lost with this route. 

Deactivating a Facebook account, page, or group is temporary as it allows you to hide your account and then recover your information if you choose to reactivate it. Suppose you’re experimenting with a social media detox, it’s best to deactivate your account instead of deleting it. You might change your mind after spending time away from the platform.

Take A Copy

As previously mentioned, if you would like to save your Facebook photos and other uploads, you should download a copy before deleting it. First, go to “Settings” and then click the “Download a copy of your Facebook data” option. Afterward, press “Start My Archive” to begin saving your data. 

It’s crucial to keep your content just in case you want to use it for future business endeavors like a start up. When you have a copy of your Facebook account, page, or group, you can utilize it while creating a small business and gain greater traffic than you would on Facebook with SEO. 

Delete Your Facebook Account 

So you’ve decided to delete your Facebook account. Follow these simple steps, and say goodbye to your account. 

1. Go to this link https://m.facebook.com/account/delete on either your mobile phone or computer.
2. Then simply click, “Delete My Account.” 
3. After this, you are not supposed to log back into Facebook. If you do, then you will cancel the deletion request.
4. It typically takes a few days to complete, but allow up to 2 weeks for your deletion request to go through.

It’s important to note that if you’re using New Facebook and experiencing problems with deleting your account, you can switch back to Classic Facebook. Simply click the downward arrow at the top right of Facebook, and press, “Switch to Classic Facebook.” 

Also, keep in mind that once you delete your Facebook account, you will lose Facebook Messenger too. You also won’t be able to use your Facebook login for other accounts you signed up for with Facebook, like Pinterest or Spotify. 

Deactivate Your Facebook Account

If you chose to deactivate your Facebook account instead of deleting it, follow these five easy steps. 

1. First, go to “Settings.” 
2. Then click “Manage Accounts” under General Account Settings.
3. Press, “Deactivate Facebook Account.” 
4. Verify your account by entering your Facebook password.
5. Choose a “reason for leaving” in one of the multiple-choice bubbles, and finish by clicking “Deactivate.” 

To reactivate your Facebook account, just log back into Facebook. 

Delete Your Facebook Group

Let’s say you want to delete a Facebook Group you created, but you don’t want to delete your entire account. For this all you have to do is, 

1. Go to the group and click “Members.” 
2. Next to each member’s name, click, “Remove from Group.”
3. After removing everyone, but yourself choose, “Leave Group” by your name. 
4. Finish by selecting, “Leave and Delete” 

After completing these steps, the Facebook Group you created is gone. 

If you did not create the group, but are an admin, you can only delete it if the original creator leaves first.

Delete Your Facebook Page

To delete a Facebook Page you created for an old business venture, or fan page that no longer suits your fancy, all you need to do is complete these three steps.

1. First, go to the page you want to delete and press, “Settings.”
2. Go to the bottom of the General Tabs and click, “Remove Page.” 
3. Press, “Delete (Page)” and click, “Okay.”

Similar to Facebook Groups, you have to be the creator of a Facebook Page to delete it. Friendly reminder that it can take up to 2 weeks for Facebook to delete the page. 

Delete the App from Your Phone

Deleting the Facebook and Facebook Messenger App from your phone is very simple for both Androids and iPhones. For Androids, follow these steps:

1.  Go to your settings and open the Application Manager 
2. Tap Facebook and Uninstall 

To delete the app from your iPhone, you have to:

1. Press and hold the app’s icon.
2. Tap the X that appears or the “Delete App” option, depending on your phone’s version.
3. To confirm tap, “Delete.” 

If you would like to reinstall the app on your Android, re-download it from the Google Play Store. 

If you would like to reinstall the app on your iPhone, re-download it from the iTunes App Store. 

Friendly reminder that deleting the app does not delete your Facebook account. You must do that separately with the instructions previously provided. 

Remember Your Other Logins

As briefly mentioned, once you delete your Facebook account, you will lose the ability to log in to other apps with your Facebook login. Users of apps such as Pinterest, DoorDash, and Spotify will frequently use their Facebook accounts for their logins out of convenience. However, once they delete their Facebook they lose that ability. 

One of the last things you need to do before deleting your Facebook is to find the list of apps you currently use that rely on your Facebook account. To do this, sign into Facebook and go to Settings. Then press, “Apps and Websites” and “Logged in With Facebook.” Under the “Active” section, every app that you share your Facebook login with will appear. 

One app that can be challenging to continue using after deleting your Facebook account is Spotify. Unfortunately, there is no proper way to separate your Spotify and Facebook accounts yet. However, Spotify users have had success in transferring their playlists and library with the help of Spotify Customer Service. 

For future reference, keep in mind that it’s best to avoid using Facebook to sign in to other sites and apps. It’s ideal to have a separate login and password for each app to ensure top security and safety. To manage and create new passwords, download a password manager, like LastPass, to create and store unique, strong passwords. 

Delete Account of Incapacitated Friend/Family Member

In the unfortunate occurrence that a loved one is medically incapacitated or has passed on, Facebook can delete their account if you no longer want it up. To begin the process, you must submit a Special Request for Medically Incapacitated or Deceased Person’s Account.  

If your loved one has passed on, then you need documentation of their passing. You can provide this by submitting a scan or picture of their death certificate with the request. This is the fastest way to delete the account of a deceased friend or family member. 

Facebook also accepts the documents below to provide proof of authority if you do not have access to the death certificate.

One of the following-

• Power of Attorney 
• Birth Certificate 
• Last will 
• Estate Letter 

One of the following- 

• Obituary
• Memorial Card 

How to Contact Facebook

If you are having difficulty either deleting or deactivating your Facebook account, there are multiple ways to contact Facebook. You can go to their Help Center, which answers commonly asked questions and provides links to simplify the process. You can also submit a question to their Facebook Help Community, which allows other Facebook members to respond to your inquiries. 

As a last resort, you could Report a Problem. To do so, login to Facebook and click the downward arrow at the top right of the page. Then select “Help and Support”> ”Report a Problem.” Submit a screenshot and other details to describe what isn’t working accurately. 

Time to Change Your Mind

If you’re slightly indecisive, that’s okay. Facebook considered that. If you decided to delete your account but changed your mind, you can cancel your account deletion as long as it’s been less than 30 days since you submitted the deletion. If you try to do so after the 30 days are up, you will find all of your Facebook information permanently deleted. 

To cancel your deletion, all you have to do is log in to Facebook within 30 days and click “Cancel Deletion.” Your account, pictures, statuses, and other data will be completely restored. It will be like nothing changed! 

Can Facebook Delete My Account?

Facebook does have the power to disable a Facebook account, but not to delete an account. You will know that your account is disabled if you try to sign in, and you won’t be able to. You will also receive a message notifying you that it’s disabled. If you don’t see this message, then it’s most likely a different problem. 

Facebook can disable accounts that do not follow the Facebook Terms. To name a few examples, Facebook will disable accounts that are impersonating someone, using a fake name, or posting content that does not adhere to the Terms of Agreement. If you believe your account was disabled by mistake, you can request a review. 

You’re Free, Now What?

You’ve finally cut the cord and deleted Facebook from your life. One door has closed, and another door has opened. You now have more time for on and off-screen activities.

If you said goodbye to Facebook, but are open to other social media platforms, here are a few alternatives. If you’re looking to stay up to date on the world, express yourself, or grow your business, try YouTube. YouTube is an excellent resource as it’s the second largest search engine after Google, but it’s also a great way to express and brand yourself in a video format. Organize your YouTube videos in a playlist to quickly and conveniently catalogue the videos you create and/or watch. You can even advertise your videos to reach a larger audience and increase ad revenue. 

If you’re missing the Facebook Messenger feature, then try WhatsApp. WhatsApp is a messaging app used in over 180 million countries for both personal and professional communication. Like Facebook Messenger, you can send text and voice messages and make video and audio calls. You can share documents, pictures, your location, and other media with just this one app. It’s an excellent and free way to stay connected with friends and coworkers who live around the globe. 

Conclusion

There are multiple reasons why a Facebook user would want to delete their account, group, or page. If it’s because you are limiting your social media usage, then hats off to you. If you are switching to other platforms for your personal or professional ventures, then cheers to fresh starts! 

It’s not always easy to close the door on something that no longer serves you. But keep in mind that a new door has opened and it’s ready for you. 

And don’t worry, you don’t have to jump into a new business endeavor alone. Services like Twiz have helped over 200 businesses grow with search engine optimization (SEO). 

If you want to expand your small business, enterprise, or industry through SEO, Twiz has you covered. Book a free consultation to learn more about Twiz’s services and how they can help you open the next great chapter in your life. 

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