Meta's recent decision to remove its third-party fact-checking system and loosen content moderation policies has sparked widespread outrage, with many users taking to Google to search for ways to delete their Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts. The backlash is largely attributed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's remarks that the company's third-party fact checkers were "too politically biased" for his vision of "free expression," which has raised concerns about the spread of misinformation and polarizing speech on the platforms.

For those who have had enough of Meta's algorithms and data collection practices, deleting their accounts may seem like the only recourse. However, before taking the plunge, it's essential to download your personal information from the Facebook archives, which include photos, active sessions, chat history, IP addresses, facial recognition data, and which ads you clicked on. This step is crucial, as deleting your account will result in the loss of access to your data.

To download your Facebook archive, follow these steps: click the down arrow under your profile picture, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings, scroll down to Your information, and click Download your information. You will be prompted to visit the Accounts Center, where you can choose which information to download, including data from your Facebook, Instagram, and Meta Horizon accounts.

Once you've downloaded your data, you can proceed to delete your Facebook account. Note that this action is permanent, and you will not be able to regain access to your account. Facebook delays deletion for a few days after it's requested, and will cancel your deletion request if you log back into Facebook during this time. Additionally, some information like messaging history isn't stored in your account, so your friends might still have access to messages you sent after your account is deleted.

To delete your Facebook account, click your profile picture, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings, click Accounts Center, click Personal details, under Account Settings, click Account ownership and control, and then click Deactivation or deletion. Choose the account or profile you want to deactivate, select Deactivate account, and follow the instructions to confirm.

Instagram users can also download their information and delete their accounts. To download your Instagram information, navigate to the Accounts Center or your Instagram Settings, click Download your information, and choose which profiles to download information from. You can then select whether to download the information to a device or directly transfer it to another destination.

To delete your Instagram account, go directly to Accounts ownership and control settings in the Accounts Center, click Deactivation or deletion, select the account you want to delete, and click Delete account. Once your account is deleted, you can sign back up with the same username if it's still available.

Threads users who want to delete their accounts can do so by going to the Threads.net webpage on a computer, clicking the two parallel lines in the bottom left of the page, then clicking Settings, Account, and Deactivate or delete profile. Note that deleting the Instagram account associated with your Threads profile will also delete your Threads profile.

The exodus from Meta's platforms is a significant blow to the company's reputation and user base. As the tech giant struggles to balance its vision of "free expression" with the need to combat misinformation and protect user data, it remains to be seen how this backlash will impact the company's future policies and direction.

In the meantime, users who have had enough of Meta's platforms can take control of their data and online presence by following the steps outlined above. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it's essential for users to be aware of their rights and options when it comes to their online data and privacy.