Likewise, your accounts on social media may only have a finite lifespan as you find new ways to keep in touch with family and friends. Still, even if you can’t remember the last time you used Myspace (if you ever had it) or Tumblr, this doesn’t mean that the accounts themselves are gone as well.

Read More: Do Social Networks Respect Your Privacy?

Abandoned social media accounts can be problematic in this sense, as personal information may still be accessible on those sites in the form of posts, interactions with other people on the sites, and even old login information. Even if you don’t mind strangers browsing the internet to stumble on your music interests and hobbies circa 2006, the fact that your neglected social pages are a gateway that hackers and cybercriminals can use to track down and compromise your other digital properties, like emails, bank accounts, and other social pages, should strike you as troubling. Hence, it is important to ensure that a social media account is completely deleted to the best of your ability before moving on.

Here, we’ll talk about how to scrub away the Amaro and Valencia filters, and how you can amicably part ways with your Instagram.

The Process
As you would when deleting any other account online, your first step is to go onto Instagram on a computer or smartphone using the account you want to get rid of.

Next, click on the “Edit Profile” located next to your username, and scroll down. At the bottom, in lieu of a permanent “Delete My Account” button, you’ll be met with a more tepid “I want to temporarily disable my account” button.

Here is where things get somewhat trickier. Since Instagram doesn’t provide you with a way to completely erase any trace of your account on the platform in the form of comments, likes, photos, and direct messages, you may wish to remove all of these yourself manually. Depending on how often you’ve used the account in question, this could be a rather short and simple process, or one that would take weeks to realize. Assuming your account would require the latter, it isn’t necessary unless you don’t fully trust Instagram will keep your information filed even after erasure.

In any event, after you select the “temporary disable” button, you’ll be given further options for permanently deleting your account. All you need to do is follow this link while you’re still logged in, fill out the fields saying why you’ve decided to delete, and presto! Just keep in mind, however, that you can only delete your account while logged in to a computer or a laptop — you will only receive the “temporary disable” prompt if you’re on mobile.

If you ever decide you have buyer’s remorse and want your account restored, have no fear! The username will still be available, although your photos will be wiped if you decide to return.

So, there is some good news and some bad news for the social media mischief that wants to delete their account. In terms of the good news: Facebook will allow you to permanently delete your account at your request. Keep in mind this is completely different from deactivating your account — if you deactivate your account, it will not be visible to anyone on Facebook; however, once you log back in, your account is fully activated.

Deleting your account is permanent, and it cannot be reactivated. In terms of the bad news: any messages you have sent will still show up in the inboxes of your friends. Keep in mind that once you post something on the internet, it’s out there for good.

Read More: 3 Ways To Be Safe on Facebook

It takes Facebook a long time to delete your account, especially if you’ve had it for a long time. According to their website, it can take up to 90 days to delete everything you’ve posted, including status updates, pictures, and other data.

If you want to delete your Facebook, simply log in and go to the help center. The help center can be accessed from the little drop down box on the top right corner of your home page. So click on the drop down box, select “Help,” then “Visit the Help Center.” Next, on the menu on the left side of the page, click on “Manage Your Account.” Under this section you will see an option on the menu that reads “Deactivating & Deleting Accounts.”

Next, you will see two options, one for the people who want to deactivate their account and another for those who want to delete their account. So, under the latter section, click on “How do I Permanently Delete my Account?” Facebook will then present to you a series of caveats, warning you of the irreversibility of deleting your account. If you wish to proceed, click on the highlighted “Let Us Know” tab, and proceed to click “Delete My Account.”

You want to protect yourself from any embarrassing or potentially harmful information about you on your Facebook, but you also want to protect your Android device and PC from anyone trying to get ahold of your personal data. Install PSafe Total in order to utilize their antivirus scan as well as some other helpful security features