How to delete a Facebook account

Deleting the Facebook account is something that we have all considered at some time. In a hangover, during exam time, or simply as an attempt to simplify our digital life, we have said that about "I'm going to remove Facebook".

We have been looking at security for a while -years- and, above all, privacy on Facebook is in question. A few days ago the news broke that Facebook had allowed third parties access to the data of thousands of users, and this has encouraged more people to close their account.

The motivations to delete our Facebook account accumulate. Even one of the founders of WhatsApp, Brian Acton, supports the hashtag #deletefacebook.

Deleting is not the same as deactivating

Don't confuse deleting with deactivating the account, which is temporary. Deactivating the account hides our profile, but account continues to exist indefinitely, waiting for us to log in.

If this is what you need to do, and you just want to take a break from Facebook, you can do it by following these steps:

• Go to the menu at the bottom right of the iPhone app (the lines).
• Press "Settings".
• Click on "Account Settings" from the drop-down menu.
• Now, "General."
• Press "Manage account".
• And finally, "Deactivate".

It will ask you for the password to confirm it, and you will already have your account deactivated.

If you decide not to delete your account, remember to review all privacy and security settings, so that it fits what you want.

How to delete the account

It cannot be done from the app, do not look for it. We should go to Safari (or any browser from any device) and open:

https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account

Log in and click on "Delete my account". It will ask you for the password to confirm it and the confirmation will appear.

The account is not deleted at the moment, in fact, we can continue to log in normally and the deletion process will be canceled. Although before that, it reminds you that the account is in the process of being deleted. According to the Facebook website, it may take up to 90 days for your account to be deleted. 

Years ago I deleted my Facebook account and it took those 90 days. The new account that I have made today, it seems that it will take only 14 days. There is not much to erase, of course. After those 90 days (or 14 days in the case of my account) and permanently eliminated, there will be no going back.

Despite deleting your account permanently and forever, data, such as messages, may remain on Facebook. As well as your records, but Facebook claims that they do not have any kind of personal identifier.