Deleting Your Entire Contents of Facebook - would you ?

Combat squirrel · 24 Jun 2017 at 15:47

As title! I've seen some software lately that can delete your entire timeline since you joined Facebook (but keep your account)- its made me think - should I ?

As most people, I am on Facebook, everyone is these days it seems - I use it daily, i talk to my mates, I post daily funny things iv seen or share stuff - I am , your usual facebook user.

But the idea of deleting my entire timeline is an interesting one - I've not got anything on there I am bothered about, but I like the idea of being more anonymous to my friends list now - BUT this then removes the entire point OF facebook - your entire digital life is gone, no longer would I get 'this happened last year' updates from FB - which is nice to see sometimes.

I understand it only deletes your public/user account information - facebook backend servers never delete stuff - this isn't a discussion about governmental monitoring of citizens - just what you can see in your log in.

What do you think ? Would you have a timeline clear out to have 'nothing' on your facebook profile ? (I think it keeps your profile pics, albums etc - its just the time line)

V F · 24 Jun 2017 at 15:50

Nothing is ever removed. There are always ways it can be traced back.

Combat squirrel · 24 Jun 2017 at 15:51

V F said:
Nothing is ever removed. There are always ways it can be traced back.

I understand it only deletes your public/user account information - facebook backend servers never delete stuff - this isn't a discussion about governmental monitoring of citizens - just what you can see in your log in.

Rannoch · 24 Jun 2017 at 15:52

Or this? - https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account

Combat squirrel · 24 Jun 2017 at 15:53

Vargas said:
Or this? - https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account

Yeah I need FB for my business.

And as above, I am on about deleting your entire timeline but keeping fb

V F · 24 Jun 2017 at 15:55

Combat squirrel said:
snip

Yes but I guarantee someone will have screen shotted or webarchive or something similar... So what would be the point in hiding it.

If you're using it for business, I hope you have two accounts...

Combat squirrel · 24 Jun 2017 at 15:59

V F said:
Yes but I guarantee someone will have screen shotted or webarchive or something similiar... So what would be the point in hiding it.

It's not hiding it - its deleting the timeline - again iv got nothing on there im bothered about my entire friends list can see it.

It's more the concept I am asking here - I knew full well OCUK would reply with 'just delete it' or 'nothing gets deleted' - its why if you read my OP iv already addressed that !! lol

My question is - do you like the idea of deleting your entire 'public facing timeline' - to start fresh or delete it and never post on ur timeline again ?

Yesss you can delete fb yessssssssss it never deletes off FB servers

But as far as i know webarchive doesn't work on facebook anyway due to robots.txt

Anyone got any answers to the philosophical question of removing ur entire timeline ? lol

Rroff · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:20

I've pruned the odd post over time - largely related to nights out - but not really posted anything I'd have a reason to remove.

dowie · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:22

V F said:
Nothing is ever removed. There are always ways it can be traced back.

not by anyone other than Facebook internally and they've got plenty of restrictions on this... so essentially a post on your timeline is removed if deleted and no human should ever see it again

jsmoke · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:22

You can actually download your whole FB content(everything), so might want to back up first, there is some option in settings, a link to 'download all my content', saves as a ZIP file.

dowie · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:23

jsmoke said:
You can actually download your whole FB content(everything), so might want to back up first, there is some option in settings, a link to 'download all my content', saves as a ZIP file.

Can you restore anything though - it isn't like you can backdate a timeline post surely?

jsmoke · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:26

dowie said:
Can you restore anything though - it isn't like you can backdate a timeline post surely?

Not sure if you can restore, have to look that up. Juust came across this in some link on FB and tried it out. Saves all posts, messages in raw text format.

Combat squirrel · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:28

Interesting, thanks guys, I suppose I could back it up.... It just sort of... Appeals somehow starting fresh, but it really is a modern day digital diary.

Also as mentioned above it's actually quite difficult to see some ones time line history who's not your friend on Fb.

Again,obviously all the data Is kept for advertising, in Fb back servers etc

Also I ask the question because, is Fb to some people addictive at some level? I confess to struggling not to go on Fb at least once a day, usually out of boredom, if I am bored of working I'll hop on for a browse, but I find it's so distracting.

I guess I'd be better off not going on Fb, but it's really difficult not to.

Seperatly it's an essential platform for my business so I'd never delete my account.

Efour · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:35

No I wouldn't like doing it.
I'm sure someday when I get proper time Im gonna go through all the crap me and a mate used to talk, before he died.

It is a digital diary, I like that you said that. I know it's a lot of other awful things too, but that is 1 positive.

V F · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:36

Combat squirrel said:
Also I ask the question because, is Fb to some people addictive at some level? I confess to struggling not to go on Fb at least once a day, usually out of boredom, if I am bored of working I'll hop on for a browse, but I find it's so distracting.

Well they do have Internet clinics in America for this.

Macky · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:49

Efour said:
No I wouldn't like doing it.
I'm sure someday when I get proper time Im gonna go through all the crap me and a mate used to talk, before he died.

It is a digital diary, I like that you said that. I know it's a lot of other awful things too, but that is 1 positive.

There is an episode of Black Mirror which explores this concept, good episode too.

Puzzled · 24 Jun 2017 at 17:06

jsmoke said:
You can actually download your whole FB content(everything), so might want to back up first, there is some option in settings, a link to 'download all my content', saves as a ZIP file.

When I tried it a while back the images were so compressed that it was pointless having them, maybe I did it wrong.

Few of my close friends have deleted their accounts and tbh I only go on it for birthday reminders and see what videos have been posted by a couple of contacts as they find some interesting stuff occasionally. Don't think I have posted on it or updated my profile for years so maybe I should just delete it.

Malevolence · 24 Jun 2017 at 17:40

I've never understood the bizarre desire to plaster every aspect of your entire life all over the internet for anyone to see. The point is moot here, I don't use Facebook except for one empty 'fake' account that's only ever used to 'like' **** if it's needed to get free **** or enter a competition.

V F · 24 Jun 2017 at 18:19

Malevolence said:
I've never understood the bizarre desire to plaster every aspect of your entire life all over the internet for anyone to see. The point is moot here, I don't use Facebook except for one empty 'fake' account that's only ever used to 'like' **** if it's needed to get free **** or enter a competition.

Did you win?

Malevolence · 24 Jun 2017 at 18:26

V F said:
Did you win?

Yeah, won twice. An electric pot noodle fork and a game. I'm made for life now.