For some, changing social media habits or eliminating the time distraction altogether is tops on the list of New Year’s resolutions.
Yet, breaking it off with a network may not be as easy as a few clicks.
Last January, Fortune magazine reported that Generation Xers spend about 32 hours a week consuming social media, while middle-aged Americans and millennials focus for 6 to 7 hours weekly. For some, changing social media habits or eliminating the time distraction altogether is tops on the list of New Year’s resolutions.
Yet, breaking it off with a network may not be as easy as a few clicks. In March, PC Magazine shared how to jump through hoops to make it happen. First, however, the magazine cautioned to consider carefully before taking steps to delete, cancel or remove as it may be difficult to open new or reactivate later. Plus, know the difference between deleting an account and deactivating: The former means that all information is gone for good, while the latter indicates information is saved, it just goes away into cyberspace in case users decide to reactivate.
PC lists Twitter as easy to deactivate. Simply visit the account settings and take care of business with the link at the bottom. A return-to-Twitter grace period of 30 days is offered; after that, Twitter deletes the account.
Facebook, though, is so intertwined with other universes that PC warns killing the account may lock a user out of other sites. Lifewire.com recommends altering privacy settings and blocking friends instead of taking drastic measures to escape from Facebook altogether.
Facebook may try to “talk you out of” leaving — and exiting does not mean that information shared with others and on others’ pages will go away. Parting ways with Facebook requires only a visit to Settings and then Deactivate Your Account.
For Snapchat, deleting the app is not enough. Users must log in to the website and navigate a few hurdles to indicate a robot is not involved before account deletion is possible.
PC’s “How to Delete Your Accounts From the Internet” advises steps for other accounts. Plus, there are a few sites that list specific instructions on how to delete accounts, including accountkiller.com and justdelete.me.