Slaying the Dragon - Deleting Facebook
If you're gonna go, go all out. Facebook is the biggest social media presence, at least with old white men, and should have the biggest impact; albeit positive or negative.Back it up
Like a good digital citizen, before deletion you should download a backup of your data. I know I should have a copies of the pictures somewhere, but with several phone wipes, I'd prefer to error on the side of caution.I Google "Backup Facebook account" and am presented with Google's instant answer snippet:
Seems straightforward and simple enough. With determination, I login to my Facebook account and attempt to begin the process. I am prompted with a password challenge to which I dutifully comply. I was thinking the files would begin to download, however, I was informed that "they are getting the files ready" and a link would be sent to my email on file when complete. I didn't have to wait long, five minutes or so, and began the download.
My Facebook happenings were compressed into a single zip file that was 158mb in size. I thought I was more popular that 158mb. After unzipping, I was presented with 3 folders and an index.htm file. I know index.htm is the go to file for serving web pages, and seemed like the obvious click choice.
Facebook did a nice job of presenting data offline, as long as you use their index page. Blindly navigating the photos folder is trial and error with no descriptive naming convention.
Pulling the trigger
So I have my backup, time to delete. I have heard stories from both sides stating it's difficult to delete your account and it is super easy. Before I Google the answer, I thought I would browse around like the hoi poloi and see how easy it was.
I navigate to the standard settings gear in the upper right hand corner, then settings. At first glance - nothing. Let's try security option from the left navigation bar. Well, I see "deactivate", not the same as delete, let's keep looking. I click through every navigation option from the left and do not find anything more "delety", so I head back to go through the deactivate process.
Facebook wants a reason, and to keep sending me emails. I choose spending too much time on Facebook and opt out of their email propaganda. I am prompted for my password again and am greeted with a confirmation message.
Hmmm. Just doesn't feel like I am rid of Facebook yet so I Google it "Delete Facebook Account".
The Google snippet states the above, maybe that's it? The first result after snippet is an official Facebook help page. The page kindly describes the perils of deletion, but does offer me a convenient link to backup my data. I don't see a delete button, but if I actually read the paragraph, it says to "let them know". The let them know link takes you to the real delete process. Here's the link if you don't want to read their literary prose:
DELETE FACEBOOK LINK: https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account
I am prompted a few more times, a couple warnings, and think I am done. Nope. That was my deletion request, it will be permanently deleted in 30 days. Guess I'm on the list, let's see how it goes.
I will be updating this post with the quirks and oddities that come of this, should be good times!
Life after Facebook
Only means of communication lost with some
It was three days before the first person actually noticed and asked me about it. Apparently they went to send me a message and I was outty 5000. It was my neighbor and he did not have my cell phone number to text, I wonder how many more people used Facebook as primary means of communication with me?Gone from friends contacts on THEIR phone
About a week after my Facebook demise, my buddy contacted me via telephone. "So..." he spoke awkwardly as if something happened, why else would I delete my Facebook account? Did I get involved in a comment train wreck? Say something I wasn't supposed to? "I noticed you deleted your Facebook, is everything OK?"
I proceed to tell him of my quest for virtual suicide and he laughs, he remembers I walk the road lit by oddity. He informs me he had a hard time finding my number. Apparently, I was a contact on his phone and when I deleted my Facebook account, I was no longer a contact! His phone must have been synced with Facebook, but I did not realize I would disappear from other's devices. This must be the reason my phone is not blowing up.
Tinder's out
If I was into that kinda thing.
