Someone is sending you this article because they want to make you aware of the dangers of using Facebook. In this article, we’ll explain why deleting your Facebook account might be a good idea.
Why delete your Facebook account?
Probably someone sent you this article because you have a Facebook account and they are concerned. There is a lot going on with Facebook, so you may not want to have an account there at all.
What’s Wrong With Facebook?
You probably got it: there was a major data breach at Facebook. The data of millions of Dutch users is out there. You can easily check whether you are part of this data breach. And Facebook? It will not notify the total of nearly 533 million affected users.
If such a data breach happens once and the company apologizes and corrects itself, then there is little to worry about. Mistakes are made, but with Facebook it happens over and over again.
For example, in 2018, data company Cambrigde Analytica collected information about millions of users to create psychological profiles, in order to deliver targeted political ads to Facebook. In the same year, it was found that Facebook had made deals with companies such as Amazon and Huawei to provide access to users’ data. It also turned out that hackers could easily gain access to accounts due to a leak. We list a few more Facebook scandals.
What can people do with my data?
What do hackers do with your data? You have nothing to offer, do you? You can make a big mistake about that. First of all, this data can be misused for phishing. Your personal information is then used to gain your trust and subsequently steal money from you. For example, via a phone call from a nice-sounding service employee, a WhatsApp from someone pretending to be an acquaintance or a text message from your bank.
But I don’t fall for that, do I? Hopefully not indeed! But the data can be misused in far worse ways. Such as identity fraud. Your personal information can be used, for example, to open an account or to apply for a loan. You should therefore always take data leaks seriously.
But surely every company has a data breach?
Unfortunately, this appears to be the case in practice. While other companies use this as a learning opportunity, we don’t see that reflected in Facebook. The company seems confident that its users will stay anyway as they have become dependent on Facebook. A scandal here and there doesn’t really matter.
For Facebook, the social network is also about collecting as much data from you as possible. Data from your profile, your messages, who you are friends with and what you like, to create a complete picture of you for showing ads. Do you trust Facebook with all that information?
What should I use?
You probably use Facebook for all kinds of different reasons. There is no alternative that can replace all these functions. We keep in touch with our family, friends and even our favorite stores through Facebook. Facebook remembers our birthdays, we sell our stuff and can even date there these days.
However, if you look at the individual functions, there are always alternatives to be found. For example, do you really need the birthday function of Facebook, or can you also put the birthdays of your loved ones in your contacts or digital calendar? We have listed a number of Facebook alternatives for you.
Is it still smart to log in to other websites with Facebook?
Many websites allow you to log in via your Facebook account. Super handy, because that way you don’t have to create different accounts. Yet it is not wise. If someone gains access to your Facebook account, they can also access all accounts where you log in via Facebook.
It is also a way for Facebook to track your behavior, because Facebook sees exactly where you log in and what you do there.
A new password for every account sounds like a lot of work, but it’s not too bad. Especially if you have it made and saved by a password manager. Once you’ve set it up, Logging in via a password manager is even easier and faster than logging in via Facebook. We explain step by step how that works.
What can I do to use Facebook as safely as possible?
Do you want to keep using Facebook anyway? Then there are ways to keep the damage in data leaks as limited as possible. To do this, follow the following tips:
- Use a unique password, which you only use for your Facebook account.
- Set up two-step verification via an authentication app, so you don’t have to give your phone number to Facebook.
- Share as little personal information as possible. You do not have to enter your place of residence, relationship status, etc. to use Facebook.
How can I delete my Facebook account?
Would you rather delete your Facebook account? We explain step by step how to deactivate your Facebook account.
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Delete your Facebook account: this is how you convince friends and family
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Facebook scandals: an overview of the biggest controversies
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Remove or deactivate Facebook: this is how you do it
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This way you check whether you are part of the major Facebook data breach