Understanding the Shift in Meta’s Content Moderation Policies
In recent developments, Meta’s decision to scale back on its third-party fact-checking system and ease content moderation has sparked a surge in Google searches related to deleting Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts. This move has drawn ire from users who feel that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is aligning too closely with certain political agendas, potentially transforming the platforms into breeding grounds for misinformation and divisive rhetoric.
Zuckerberg’s criticism of third-party fact-checkers as being “too politically biased” for his vision of “free expression” has only added fuel to the fire. Users are questioning the consistency of Zuckerberg’s commitment to free speech, especially considering Meta’s admission of blocking links to Pixelfed, an Instagram alternative. Moreover, shortly after Zuckerberg attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Instagram curbed searches associated with political hashtags like #democrats and #jan6th.
Global Impact and User Reactions
While Meta aims to retain its fact-checkers outside the U.S. “for now,” international users are also contemplating their options amidst these policy shifts. If you find yourself among those dissatisfied with Meta’s algorithms or its data practices, you may be considering a more permanent break from its platforms.
“If you’re really set on deleting (and not just deactivating) your Facebook account, you should download your personal information from the Facebook archives.”
{Meta User Guide}
Steps to Safeguard Your Data Before Deletion
Before you proceed with deleting your Facebook account entirely, it is crucial to download your personal data. This includes photos, active sessions, chat history, IP addresses, facial recognition data, and ads clicked on. Remember, this process requires a computer and web browser rather than a mobile device. Be aware that once deleted, your account cannot be reactivated, although deletion requests can be canceled if you log back in shortly after initiating them.
It’s important to note that some information, like message history, isn’t stored in your account database—meaning your friends might still access messages you’ve sent even after deletion.
Downloading Instagram Information
- You have two options for downloading your Instagram data: through the Accounts Center or Instagram Settings.
- For the Accounts Center: Navigate to ‘Your Information and Permissions’ to find ‘Download Your Information’.
- For Instagram Settings: Click on the three parallel lines at the bottom left of your screen, then select ‘Your Activity’.
Both methods lead you to the ‘Download Your Information’ page where you can select profiles from which you wish to download data. Choose whether to download it directly to a device or transfer it elsewhere. Specify your date range, notification email, format preference, and media quality before clicking ‘Create Files’. Once requested, it will appear under ‘In Progress’ in the Current Activity tab.
“Instagram will notify you by email and on the app when your data is ready for download.”
{Instagram Data Management}
Final Steps: Permanently Deleting Your Account
Once you’ve secured your data, you’re ready for account deletion. After permanently deleting an account, you may reuse the same username if available upon re-registration. Note that deleting an Instagram account linked with Threads also removes your Threads profile. However, if you wish to delete only Threads, visit the Threads.net page on a computer and follow the necessary steps — bear in mind it takes 30 days for this request to process fully.
A Considered Decision
This transition away from Meta’s platforms is significant and impacts how users interact with social media spaces moving forward. As you deliberate on these choices, ensure you’re informed about all procedural nuances and potential consequences involved in account deletions.
