(Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Meta’s move to replace its third-party fact checkers with an X-like Community Notes feature has alarmed many people. The fear is that without objective fact checking—and a shift to recommend political content—Instagram could become a more divisive and contentious platform, just like X. If those concerns leave you wondering whether it’s time to plug the plug, the site offers a couple of options.
If you just want to take a break from Instagram on the chance that you might return to it in the future, you can deactivate your account. This will render it inactive until you sign back in. If you definitely want to cut the cord, you can delete your account for good. This will remove your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers. Here's how to perform both actions.
How to Deactivate Your Instagram Account
To disable your account from the mobile app, tap your profile icon on the bottom toolbar and select the hamburger icon in the top-right corner. At the Settings and activity screen, tap the setting for Accounts Center.
Select Personal details, tap Account ownership and control, and then select Deactivation or deletion. Confirm the account you want to deactivate.
Make sure the option is set to Deactivate account, then tap Continue. Re-enter your password and tap Continue. Select the reason you wish to deactivate your account, tap Continue, and then tap Deactivate account.
You can also deactivate your account from the website. Launch Instagram.com on your favorite browser and sign in. From any page, click the More icon on the left and select Settings.
Go to Accounts Center, select Personal details, and then click Account ownership and control. Select Deactivation or deletion.
Select your account, click Deactivate account, and select Continue. Re-enter your password, choose the reason for deactivating, click Continue, and finally click Deactivate account.
How to Delete Your Instagram Account
To permanently delete your account from the mobile app, tap your profile icon on the bottom toolbar and select the hamburger icon in the top-right corner. At the Settings and activity screen, tap the setting for Accounts Center.
Select Personal details, tap Account ownership and control, and then select Deactivation or deletion. Confirm the account you want to deactivate.
Change the option to Delete account, then tap Continue. Choose the reason you wish to delete your account, tap Continue, and then tap Delete account.
You can also take this drastic step from the Instagram website. After signing in with your account, click the More icon on the left and select Settings.
Go to Accounts Center, select Personal details, and then click Account ownership and control. Select Deactivation or deletion.
Select your account, click Delete account, and select Continue. Re-enter your password, choose the reason for the deletion, click Continue, and finally click Delete account.
Your account is recoverable for another month. Sign back in within that time to revive your account; otherwise it will be permanently removed.
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