Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Can One Delete a Facebook Account?

I've never really gotten into Facebook. I understand it in connection to Web 2.0 and how it is a good communication tool. However, I don't really need Facebook to communicate. Granted, good things came out of when I used it briefly this past year. I got to reconnect with people from the past and that was a treat. However, once you get in touch with people and you know how to contact one another, there is no use to being on Facebook. I don't see the point to reading people's status updates about this and that and who-knows-what. It's not a matter of time, really. It's simply a matter of interest. I'm just not into it.

A few months ago, I was told by people that various links to ads were being posted on their walls by me. The message that would randomly get posted on people's walls said something like "I thought you might like to read this" and then a link was attached to it. The links were usually to products and businesses. So, in short, my account got hacked or phished or whatever else they call it.

As a result, I tried to see about deleting my account. Only, you can't really delete your Facebook account. And I don't understand this. If I do not want a service I should have the right to reject it, right? I got another message today saying that my account had been recently reactivated which is very odd to me. So, I tried to deactivate it again. But then again, I don't know how long till the cycle will repeat itself.

So, my question to you all is, does anyone know how to delete a Facebook account?






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7 comments:

Sra said...

Hmm, I'm a little bit bothered by the fact that there doesn't seem to be an easy way to permanently delete a FB account.

I found a how-to for deleting an account permanently, but it looks like an involved process. Looks like you might be able to just email facebook and have them delete it, though.

Unknown said...

That is annoying. I have read/heard about that, too. It is tough to permanently delete a Facebook account and I don't really understand why.

Another thing I'd recommend, is changing the user name/password as well.

Unknown said...

The Sra link is the way to go. The account should continue to get deactivated. And if that doesn't take, try the changing of the user name and such.

Anonymous said...

Right, the deactivation route is best, I'd say, just in case you need to reactivate it at some point in the future. A lot of other people seem to have the same problem, though. Annoying, indeed. Not into it, either. Also, one's intellectual property should be nobody's but the person's own.

Will said...

Under Account Settings there's a deactivate option. It's hard to fully delete the account but the deactivation should stick.

Sean said...

Tough to delete it but possible to deactivate. I don't see the point to it, either. How many forms of communication can one need, right?

B.R. said...

Apparently there's no way to get out of Facebook. My account got somehow reactivated on its own. I am speaking with Facebook and they also think my account has been hacked. Hopefully it will get fully resolved this time.
Annoying!!
Thank you for your feedback.