As Facebook faces backlash over its stance on fact-checking and hateful conduct, many users are considering deleting their accounts. If you're one of them, you might be wondering how to do so. The process is relatively straightforward, and we'll guide you through it.

Before deleting your account, it's essential to download your Facebook archives, which contain a wealth of personal information, including photos, chat history, IP addresses, facial recognition data, and more. This data is worth saving, and Facebook allows you to do so through its Accounts Center.

To access your archives, click on your personal icon in the upper-right corner, then go to Settings & Privacy > Settings, and click on the Accounts Center box on the left. From there, navigate to Your information and permissions on the left, and then Download Your Information > Download or transfer information. You can choose to transfer information from your Facebook or Instagram account (or both).

You'll then have the option to select Available information, which includes everything but data logs, or Specific types of information, which allows you to determine exactly what you want to download. Be aware that selecting all categories will take longer, and Facebook warns that data logs may take up to 15 days to show.

Once you've selected your desired data, choose Download to device or Transfer to destination. The typical download is about 2.5GB. You can then select the date range of the info you want to download, the format (HTML or JSON), and the media quality (low, medium, or high). Enter an email address for a notification when the download is ready, and finally, select Create files.

After downloading your archives, you're ready to delete your account. Go back to the Accounts Center and click on Personal Details > Account ownership and control > Deactivation or deletion. Click Deactivation and Deletion, and if you have both Facebook and Instagram accounts, you'll be asked to choose one.

You'll be given the option to temporarily deactivate your account, but if you're sure you want to delete it, select Delete account and click Continue. You'll be informed of any other accounts you have with Meta and given several options to explain why you're leaving. Enter your password for confirmation, and finally, hit Delete account.

Meta notes that it delays termination for a few days after the request has gone through, so be aware that the deletion will be canceled if you log back in during that period. Additionally, certain things like comments you've made on a friend's post may still appear even after you delete your account, and copies of certain items like log records will remain in Facebook's database, disassociated with personal identifiers.

If you're serious about quitting anything associated with Meta, remember that the company owns several other popular services, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, so you should delete your accounts there as well.

The ongoing controversy surrounding Facebook's policies has led many users to reevaluate their relationship with the platform. By following these steps, you can take control of your personal data and make an informed decision about your online presence.