How to delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads https://tcrn.ch/4akiqo4
@TechCrunch
I don't think many people have a facebook account on the fediverse :)
@Troll @TechCrunch
Don't be too quick to assume. I have a Facebook acct.
I Admin a rather large group there, and some of the Genealogy and writers groups are very helpful for me, more so than the ones here (some of the fb groups are very specific topics). I also have family and some good friends there who I've not been able to convince to leave corporate social media behind. The platform has helped me to get thousands of views for my blog posts over the years.
I'm trying to decide when and how to leave. There would be a lot of people screwed over and contacts permanently lost if I were to suddenly disappear. I would also need to find a way to replace those blog views. Mastodon has gotten me some, but it's been a drop in the bucket compared to fb.
I faced the same quandary when Musk took over Xitter. I eventually did delete my account, but it took a while. However, I had far fewer reasons to stay on Xitter than I do on #Facebook . I expect it will be about the same this time, too.
@AnneTheWriter1 @Troll @TechCrunch
I deleted my Facebook account this morning, even though I've been on the Fediverse for years. Facebook was my way of keeping in touch with my huge extended family.
But it's not worth the price. It never was, I just didn't do the right thing until I got this specific reminder.
@AnneTheWriter1
I completely understand your point of view. It's very complicated for many people to leave these networks, often for very good reasons. I understand that when you've invested a lot of time and effort, and you've built up a large community, it's very difficult to leave.
Ideally, it would be nice to have interoperable solutions that work so that users can leave without losing all that.
One of the reasons I look forward to (eventually) being solely on federated systems is so I can move (down the road, if needed) without losing connections.
When I first joined Mastodon from Xitter, I was able to use a macro or app that let me find people already on here that also followed me there, then to follow and connect with them instantly.
I doubt such a thing is even possible for my Facebook connections. But if anyone knows of such an app, I would love to hear about it!
@AnneTheWriter1
I've heard of HelloQuitteX (a play on words with HelloKitty, which means “Hello Leave X” in French) to help people find their Twitter/X connections, but I haven't yet heard of a similar tool for Facebook.
@Troll @TechCrunch I still have one. I'm stuck: I need to actually upload a copy of my ID-document (which I am not willing to do) to regain access to the account. My solution so far: forget about it...
@martenkoetsier
what a hell..
@TechCrunch
@TechCrunch Don't deactivate or delete. Fill the account with bad data, change to a burner phone and email on it. So your bad data is shared with partners and obfuscates your real life to them. Disinformation is your tool to freedom. Deletion just lets them know you're onto them.
@retech @TechCrunch While we're on the subject of redaction blue pill, consider less time spent on obfuscating what they seem to have on you already (old data). Cases like the corporation that can't be entirely held accountable make me believe it's pointless, if not more harmful, to redact stuff (congrats, now they know that you insist on new data be present in their system and that you have an old one to potentially hide).
@vintprox @TechCrunch I've always done this. Sorry if it's ill advised for others to start. I've never told the truth to corporations anywhere.
@retech @TechCrunch Yes turn tables on disinformation and some yourself with social media. One of Trumpo's biggest social media fans goes by "Catturd' user name on X. So stupid names are normal in that crowd.
And Bluesky?
@TechCrunch Don’t forget to delete your WhatsApp account as well.
@TechCrunch kann man das automatisieren? gibt es da noch keine randsomware zu?
@TechCrunch a big question: does Meta have a confirmed mechanism to prevent someone else re-creating a profile with the same handle? This is the main reason I haven't actually deleted my account yet.