What Is the Difference in Deleting & Deactivating Your Facebook Account?
Account de-activation and account deletion in Facebook are different processes, each offering different functions and outcomes. After determining the likelihood that you'll want to resume using your account some time in the future, you can choose the option that works best for you.
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What It Means
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Account de-activation is a Facebook feature that allows you to temporarily discontinue use of your Facebook account. It's an attractive option for users who know or think they will return to Facebook use at some point in the future. Account re-activation is possible with little effort. Account deletion is a Facebook feature that can only be used one time. If you opt to delete your Facebook account, resuming use is not an option. Delete your account only if you know you'll never want it again.
What Happens To Your Content
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With account deactivation, your Facebook profile, as well as any content associated with it, disappear from the Facebook service immediately. Facebook will save your information, which may include your interests, photos and videos, friend lists and more. Should you choose to return to Facebook, your account will look exactly the same as it did when you left.
With account deletion, your Facebook profile, which includes any content that is personally identifiable, is permanently removed from the Facebook database. This includes your personal information, screen name, mailing address, photos and videos and more. Some information may, due to technical reasons, remain within the Facebook servers. Any association with your account is removed and the content is in no way accessible to other users.
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Future Access
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To re-activate your Facebook account, open a web browser and go to facebook.com to access the main page. Enter the email address or mobile phone number that was associated with your account and your password. Upon clicking the "Sign In" button, your account will be fully restored to its condition prior to de-activation. Users who opt for account deletion may only access Facebook after creating a new account. Go to facebook.com to access the main page. Enter your personal information in the spaces provided and click the "Sign Up" button to set up your account.
How To Do It
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Once you're ready to deactivate or delete your Facebook account, sign in using your email address and password. To deactivate, open the "Account" drop-down menu in the upper right corner of any page and select "Account Settings." Click the "Security" option in the left sidebar and click the "Deactivate Your Account" link that appears on the resulting page. Confirm on the following page. To permanently delete your Facebook account go to facebook.com/help/?FAQ=224562897555674 and click the "Submit Your Request Here" link to request account deletion.
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References
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