How to Deactivate or Delete Your Facebook Account

Thinking about leaving Facebook?

This article began in April 2018, during a public debate about Facebook and personal data. Dutch television host Arjen Lubach encouraged viewers to leave the platform, prompting many people to look for the account-deletion controls.

The practical decision is yours: take a temporary break or request permanent deletion. Advertising-based services can use personal information for targeting; that doesn’t mean an advertiser list proves Facebook sold each advertiser your contact details.

Download what you want to keep

Before changing the account, request a copy of your information through Facebook’s own controls. Check that the export contains the photos, posts, or other records you need. Also review services where you use Facebook to sign in, and set up another login method where appropriate.

Deactivation versus deletion

Deactivation is intended as a reversible pause. Permanent deletion is a different request with consequences for the account and connected services. Read the confirmation screens carefully rather than assuming the two controls do the same thing.

Use Facebook’s official deletion guidance or navigate to account ownership controls in the official app. Menu names and waiting periods can change. The 90-day figure in the original article should not be treated as the cancellation window or a guarantee that every copy disappears on that date.

What may remain

Messages you sent can remain visible to their recipients. Other retention exceptions may apply under the service’s policies. Read the current explanation before confirming deletion and keep the confirmation for your records.

Interpreting your data export

The original post listed advertisers shown in my own export. That was a personal snapshot from 2018, not evidence of a specific transaction involving every named company. Use your own current export and Facebook’s explanation of each category to understand what a listing actually means.