Title: Why Many Are Eager to Ditch Facebook and Instagram: A Comprehensive Guide
It seems like folks aren't ready to embrace a post-truth world just yet. In response to Mark Zuckerberg's announcement that Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, would ditch fact-checkers in favor of a user-driven accountability system, searches for deleting Meta accounts have skyrocketed, according to Google Trends data.
Searches for "how to delete Facebook" and "how to delete Instagram" saw a significant increase in the days following the announcement of the new policy. Other related searches, such as "how to quit Facebook" and "how to delete Threads account," also saw a surge in interest, achieving breakout trend status.
Interestingly, Facebook competitors, like Bluesky, also saw a spike in searches during this period. Zuckerberg, in a seemingly defensive move, accused those leaving his company's platforms of "virtue signaling."
However, finding a suitable replacement for platforms like Instagram and Facebook, especially when turning into "post-fact AI slop factories," isn't straightforward. Zuckerberg has managed to corner significant parts of the social web, making it difficult to escape his grasp, especially when it requires convincing friends to quit as well.
According to Google Trends, Facebook has over three billion monthly active users globally, Instagram boasts two billion, and Meta-owned WhatsApp has nearly three billion active chatters. Messenger also has over one billion active users. Even if you delete your account, Meta continues to retain data about you and track your activity across the web for its massive digital advertising business.
Despite these challenges, if you're set on deleting your Facebook or Instagram account, here's how to do it:
How to Delete Your Facebook Account
- Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android device and click the three-bar "Menu" button on the bottom right.
- Tap the "Settings & privacy" header. If "Accounts Center" appears, tap it. Otherwise, tap "Settings" and follow the popup instructions to redirect you to "Accounts Center."
- Tap "Personal details."
- Tap "Account ownership and control."
- Tap "Deactivation or deletion."
- Choose the account you want to delete.
- Tap "Delete account."
- Tap "Continue" and follow the instructions on screen to confirm.
How to Delete Your Instagram Account
- Open the Instagram app and click your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap the three-bar "More" menu on the top right.
- Tap "Accounts Center."
- Tap "Personal details."
- Tap "Account ownership and control."
- Tap "Deactivation or deletion."
- Tap the account you'd like to delete.
- Tap "Delete account."
- Tap "Continue" and follow the steps on screen to confirm.
If Accounts Center doesn't appear for you, follow these steps instead:
- Click "More" on the bottom left if you're on a desktop.
- Tap "Settings."
- Follow steps 3 through 9 above.
When it comes to finding alternatives to Meta platforms, consider exploring Reddit for community engagement, Signal for secure private messaging, and Bluesky or MeWe as Instagram alternatives. Craigslist is also a reliable choice for a local marketplace without the need for a social media account. For professional networking, LinkedIn remains a top choice. Each of these platforms offers unique features that can help you avoid the issues associated with the removal of fact-checkers on Meta platforms.
The rise in interest in deleting social media accounts, such as Facebook and Instagram, highlights the concern some users have about the future of tech and technology, particularly in a world where fact-checking is diminished. In this new landscape, alternative platforms like Bluesky and Signal are seeing an increase in searches, suggesting users are looking for alternatives that prioritize accuracy and privacy.
