Has anyone permanently deleted their Facebook account?

[Afternooninthepark]

And did you feel better for doing so?

Deleted it in New Years Day this year. Haven’t missed it at all. It now seems really alien and I wonder why I ever used it.

I've deactivated, and now MN is my only social media (if that counts). There are bits I miss, as I was friends with some lovely people who live too far to visit regularly, but being removed from all the dross, drama and general time-thievery is worth it.

I've not deleted it but I have deleted most of my "friends" and now only have family and close friends on there. I have a lot of family living abroad and for many years (before FB) it was really difficult to stay in touch with some of them due to them living in a war torn country, so being able to speak to them and see whats happening in their lives every day means a lot. I do feel much happier now that I've deleted all the old school friends and work colleagues I haven't seen in years and will probably never see again.

I was going to start the same thread myself then saw yours.
Facebook used to be fun and now it's full of adverts and crap. People don't interact like they used to and I feel invisible which is no good for my mental health. I deleted family years ago and went NC anyway. I use it as a photo diary mainly and feminist groups. I don't do twitter or anything else apart from MN and I'll be deleting that too I think. Too addictive and not good for mental health although it can be amazingly supportive at times.

twisted that’s just how I feel. I really believe that cutting out social media is going to help my mental health immensely. I used to enjoy Facebook but now it’s full of endless adverts and ‘suggested’ posts. There are too many animal abuse images and charity posts which really upset me. It’ll be gone for the new year!

I didn't delete Facebook, but I did delete almost all my friends from it - and then changed my name.
I still want it to follow my groups, but didn't want to see anyone's status's / pictures.
I've about 30 friends (down from 800). Those I still have are family who I actually speak to / like.

I deactivated mine a few months ago. I just log on occasionally to check groups who insist on only updating on fb, then I deactivate it again.

You can delete your account. It takes 14 days and then it’s completely gone.

Deleted years ago and love it! Less bullshit and drama comes my way, people I want to stay in touch with are at the end of the phone and all is well!

No, but I unfollow most people so I see very little and just use it for the groups and people I really want to see.

Linked In is the one that makes me feel stabby, it's full of people who are "passionate", "excited" and "I love my job". I need to unfollow people there too!

Yes I permanently deleted mine. Now I have a new account (with a separate email and made up surname) I don't have any friends and just use if for interest groups. It works well. I only check it now a few times per month now rather than every day.

I was just thinking about this morning. The very least I need to do is unfollow a lot of people. I certainly don't want to be 'friends' with my boss. I do really like some of the groups I'm on though.

I regret putting photos of my DC on IG and I guess if I shut it down, they still have those images forever?

Like others I'm concerned about the bs impacting on my mental health but I'm sure its making me a bit dim. I used to read books, science, classic literature, history..... now I don't seem to have the attention span for even the newspaper!

I have reduced it in stages. I can't come off completely as I need it for work.

First I drastically weeded the 'friends'. Then unfollowed all of them. I posted on my timeline that as of now I don't follow the newsfeed so please don't invite me to things using posts or expect me to see any of your posts. I do however use FB Messenger. I have the Lite app on my phone.

Weeded the liked pages right down to a very few, similarly the groups. Only kept ones that are positive in content and really add value to my life. Log in occasionally to catch up on them.

I set up the calendar export function from the Events page which now puts events I am specifically invited to on FB in my calendar as tentative - I had to do this as some people will persist in thinking FB is the only way to organise an event.

Checked all my privacy and security settings.

I do log in around my birthday and Christmas as I like to acknowledge any wishes people send.

Agree that you can't permanently delete your account. Most users are not completely aware of that. You have a shadow account that is always on standby should you decide to reactivate it, say if someone writes to you etc. Unfortunately with the online era no one ever completely deletes their history. That's not how data works.

In answer to your OP, yes I ended my FB activity back in 2009 whilst going my PhD. It is really better to observe the technology rather than be in it hook, line and sinker. But from a personal point of view, I'm happier not to be ignored by certain old "friends", and not to be dragged into family feuds.

Can someone explain this shadow account? I know the difference between deactivating and permanently deleting, I deleted my account and not deactivated it. I can no longer log in using the email address and password I used, so how is there a "shadow" account?

Sorry if I sound stupid

Deactivated mine nine months ago. Best thing I ever did. I don't think about it or anyone in there at all! It allowed me to keep messenger which was good. An old face book friend messaged me recently to ask where I've disappeared to? I replied I've been off It for 9 months? ! Think she was a little embarrassed.

Have deactivated my FB.
I would delete it but there are lots of photos on there,that are not on my phone/laptop,so I would like to keep my account for that reason.
I prefer Instagram & I only follow a couple of friends on there.

I wanted to get rid but would have missed the local events and things so kept my account but deleted all friends and set everything to maximum privacy so no one can find me. Definitely feel much better and waste less time online.

^Have deactivated my FB.
I would delete it but there are lots of photos on there,that are not on my phone/laptop,so I would like to keep my account for that reason.^

Can't you just right click on those photos and save them to your current phone/laptop? You could permanently delete your account then.

I think I'd like to come off fb, but I'm addicted to Candy Crush

I’ve deactivated mine as I found it was effecting my mental health. Often my mood would be directly (and negatively) effected by what I was seeing on my timeline. Irritation, jealousy, sadness and guilt.

I was also regularly thinking about what I was doing in terms of how it would come across on facebook. (Does that make sense?) Like, if I went on holiday, it wasn’t really complete unless I took a bunch of photos and posted them and got some likes and comments. Like I needed everything ‘special’ in my life to be validated or something.

This will be my first Facebook free Christmas in 11 years. Yet just yesterday I caught myself thinking “oooh I must buy some new Christmas table settings and set it all up.... and then I’ll post it on Facebook so everyone can see”

🤦‍♀️

How did I get sucked in to this way of thinking? How did I become so superficial?? Why do I give a flying duck what people think of my Christmas table?

I also found myself passing judgement on others when in real life I really couldnt care less what anyone is doing or wearing etc. Facebook gives you this arena where it is so easy to look, watch and judge.

I deleted all my friends and removed myself from all groups prior to deactivating. I could reactivate but it would be boring. And I’d be far too embarrassed to go through and re-add everyone