Google searches for how to delete Facebook, Instagram and Threads have been rising following Meta's decision to remove third-party fact-checking systems and relax its content moderation policies.

People outraged by the decision accused Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of cozying up to the Trump administration at the cost of turning the company's social media platforms into a hotbed of misinformation and polarizing rhetoric. It probably didn't help that Zuckerberg said the company's third-party fact-checkers were "too politically biased" against his vision of "free speech."

Since Meta's announcement, many users have pointed out that it is inconsistent with Zuckerberg's new commitment to free speech. Meta admitted in mid-January that it blocked links from Instagram competitor Pixelfed. Just days after Zuckerberg sat in the front row at President Donald Trump's inauguration, Instagram blocked searches related to a number of political hashtags, including #democrats and #jan6th.

People outside the U.S. may also be considering their options. Meta said it will retain fact-checkers in markets outside the U.S. “for now,” but that could change.

So if you’re like countless others, you’re tired of Meta’s algorithms driving you crazy (insert cultural or political issue here), and tired of the company stealing your data to train its AI or send you targeted sexual advertising and political messaging, then read on.

How to download Facebook archives

If you do decide to delete (not just deactivate) your Facebook account, you should download your personal information from your Facebook profile, which includes photos, active sessions, chat history, IP address, facial recognition data and your clicks Advertisement is on.

Please note, these instructions require a computer and web browser, not a mobile phone.

What to do:

• Click the down arrow below your profile picture in the upper right corner.
• Go to Settings and privacy > set up.
• Scroll down the left column until you reach your informationthen click Download your information.
• You will be prompted to access Account Center. Click continue.
• When the pop-up window appears, click Download or transfer information.
• You can choose which accounts to download information from, including Facebook, Instagram, and Meta Horizon accounts. Click Next.
• Select the amount of information you want to download and click Next. FB note: "If you select Specific Types of Information, you will be able to select the type of information to download, including data logs."
• Decide whether you want to download the information to your device or transfer it directly to the destination and click Next.
  • If you choose transfer to destinationyou can select your destination and schedule future transfers. After making your selection, click Start transfer and enter your Facebook profile password.
  • If you choose Download to deviceselect your file options. There will be a list that lets you create a date range, which you can download in HTML or JSON format, and choose between high, medium, or low media quality.
• Click Submit a request.

How to delete your Facebook account

Note: If you delete your account, you will not be able to regain access to the account. Facebook will delay deletion for a few days after receiving the request, and if you log back into Facebook during this time, Facebook will cancel your deletion request.

It's also worth noting that some information, such as message history, is not stored in your account, so your friends may still have access to messages you send after your account is deleted.

With that in mind, here’s how:

• Click on your profile picture in the upper right corner.
• Go to Settings and privacy > set up.
• Click Account Center in the upper left corner of the screen.
• Click personal informationunder Account Settings.
• Click Account Ownership and Control.
• Click Deactivate or delete.
• Select the account or profile you want to deactivate.
• choose Deactivate account.
• Click continue and follow the instructions to confirm.

How to download your Instagram information

There are two ways to find the page for downloading Instagram information - through the Account Center or Instagram Settings. For the former, navigate to Your information and permissions turn up Download your information. To enter Instagram settings, click on the three parallel lines in the lower left corner of the screen, then click your activity…

Any of these steps will take you to Download your information Page. You need to click on the profile from which you want to download the information and choose whether you want to download it to your device or transfer the information directly to another destination.

If you choose Download to deviceyou must select a date range, notification email, format for the download request, and quality of photos, videos, and other media - the same as downloading Facebook messages. Then click Create file.

Once you make the request it will appear as in progress Under the current active tab Download your information tool. Instagram will notify you via email and in the app when it's ready, and you'll have four days to download the information.

How to delete your Instagram account

Downloaded your information? Now you are ready to delete permanently.

Here's how to do it on a web page:

• Go directly to Account ownership and control settings in Account Center.
• Click Deactivate or delete.
• Click on the account you want to delete.
• Click Delete accountthen click continue.

After your account is deleted, if you change your mind, you can re-register using the same username (if that username is still available).

How to delete your Threads account

Note: If you delete the Instagram account associated with your Threads profile, your Threads profile will also be deleted.

But to delete only threads, you need to visit the Threads.net web page on your computer and follow these steps:

• Click the two parallel lines in the lower left corner of the page, and then click set up.
• Click account at the top and then Deactivate or delete the profile.
• Click Delete profile.
• Follow any prompts that appear and click Delete thread configuration files.

Deletion requests take 30 days to be processed. If you want to re-register using the same Instagram profile, you must wait 90 days.