Why quitting Social Media made me a better person again!

I permanently deleted Meta Accounts — ✍ Kamal O. Touhami

For non-paying members, click the link here to read the full story. And say, “Hi,” if you used it, please.

NOTE: I'd like to reward readers who genuinely interact with this story. 
Just take a moment to do following; later, I'll come to check out what 
you've been writing on recently:
- 50 claps
- 3-6 highlights
- 1 comment

So, if you’re feeling a bit fed up with Facebook and Instagram due to all the data leaks and breaches, and you just need a break from the noise and exploitative exposure, you’re not alone. It might be time to part ways with these social platforms, and I’ve got a friendly guide to help you do just that.

Maybe you’ve had enough and decided, “Yep, it’s time to delete Facebook.” With all the news about security issues and breaches, it’s understandable. Last year, there was a big scare when a security flaw put around 50 million accounts at risk of being hacked. That’s not cool at all. The company promised to fix things and secure accounts, but the damage was done.

And who could forget the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where millions of users’ private data ended up in the wrong hands? If you’re also tired of all the political noisy chatter, updates from people you barely know, and exploitative paid ads programs whose algorithmic programming is to only charge you more with no concrete results, it might be time to make a clean break.

I’ve been through this myself early 2019. When I learned about Facebook’s breach, my trust took a hit. So, I decided to pull the plug on my Facebook account. I deleted everything — pictures, articles, even poems I shared. But here’s the deal:

the more you’ve woven Facebook into your life, the more time it takes to bid it farewell.

For me, quitting Facebook was the best decision I made regarding my time spent on social media. The next day after quitting, I suddenly had a ton of free hours a day just sitting there waiting for me to explore them.

How I became a better person again

I began going out more, delving into books, catching up with friends, hitting pubs and parties, engaging in conversations, and becoming more rational and patient in real life, resulting in less stress and anxiety — no more anxiety altogether. My sleep improved; no more late-night social media scrolling before closing my eyes.

I started spending less money online, thanks to fewer ads tempting me to buy unnecessary stuff. Long walks in forests and nature became a regular thing. My intimate relationship improved, connecting with my partner on a deeper emotional level. I achieved better mental and emotional well-being, finding calm and joy in life’s simple moments, such as dining out with friends and visiting family.

To make the breakup as painless as possible, I’ve put together a simple step-by-step guide. And if you’re also looking to part ways with Instagram, the photo-sharing sidekick of Facebook, I’ve got you covered for a smoother exit. Let’s make this goodbye easy and stress-free.

Step 1: Check what you might miss

Before you decide to part ways with Facebook, it’s a good idea to figure out what you might lose in the process. Some things are closely connected to Facebook and might be tricky to use without it. Testing the waters can be as simple as deactivating your account, which is like hitting pause and can be undone anytime. Just go to your settings, click “Manage Your Account,” and hit the “Deactivate your account” button.

But here’s a heads-up: deactivating my account also cut off access to apps and websites I signed up for using Facebook.

Step 2: Back up your stuff

Once I was sure I wanted to ditch Facebook, I started saving all my data from the platform. This includes personal info, photos, chats, and my friends list — things I didn’t have copies of elsewhere.

Thankfully, Facebook has a handy tool called ‘Download Your Information’ in the settings. With this tool, you get to choose what data you want. I went for everything. It took about an hour for Facebook to put all my info (about 500mb) into one file. The download took around 15 minutes, and the info was neatly organized into folders like photos, search history, and messages.

Now, just so you know, grabbing your info off Facebook doesn’t erase it from their servers. We’ll get to that in a bit.

Step 3: Time to say goodbye

Once I was sure I had all my important Facebook data safely saved, it was time for the big moment. In the Facebook settings, I clicked on “Your Facebook Information” and then hit “Delete Your Account and Information.” Then, the grand finale — I clicked on the blue “Delete Account” button. They asked for my password, gave me a heads up that it’s permanent, and I just went for it.

Step 4: Resist the Temptation

But hold on! you’d think they held up the end of the bargain! Even after all that, my Facebook account didn’t magically disappear. It turns out, it was scheduled for permanent deletion in 30 days. If I logged in during this time, I could cancel the deletion. This waiting period is there in case you change your mind. And to be fully transparent, it might take up to 90 days to wipe out all backups of your data from Facebook’s servers. So, patience is the name of the game. Don’t rush back in!

Step 5: Part ways with Instagram

If you’re looking to cut ties with Instagram as well, don’t worry, it’s pretty simple compared to Facebook. Instagram doesn’t have the same wide reach, so the process is simpler. Here’s how:

• In the app’s settings, choose the option to download a copy of your data. Instagram will send you an email with a link to download the file. It took me about 5 minutes.
• Visit the Delete Your Account webpage and follow the buttons to say goodbye to your account.

Step 6: Facebook’s Men-in-black algorithm

Remember that feeling after a breakup when you block your ex on Facebook to stop them from keeping tabs on you? Well, after parting ways with Facebook, you should do something similar to make sure the site stops tracking your online moves.

Be extra careful about getting rid of tracking methods used by Facebook and other sites. This involves clearing your web cookies, resetting your advertising identifier, and adding a tracker blocker.

Bottom line

I believe social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, is quite harmful in subtle ways for adult users and particularly damaging to younger kids. The solution is to either use it responsibly and sparingly or quit it altogether to reclaim your real life, connect with real people, and experience nature, living vividly rather than virtually.

Hi! My name is Kemal, and I hope you enjoyed reading this piece. If you did, then clap and highlight the parts that resonated with you the most. Share with us your thoughts in the comment section below. I can’t wait to discuss your views and exchange ideas. Maybe we’ll learn something from each other.

Follow my page and subscribe to the Newsletter 📰 to be notified every time I put out awesome content like this one above. Thank you, dear Champ!🤓