How to Delete or Deactivate Facebook Messenger?
Facebook has a terrible record when we talk about ensuring the security of user’s online privacy and their most valuable asset – data. Facebook’s Messenger app follows the same footstep of Facebook. The social media giant is notorious for its weak screening practices and giving a smooth hand to third-parties on its platform. It’s no secret that people are losing faith in Facebook despite their continuous promises. With never-ending data breaches, the Cambridge Analytica scandal, it’s only natural that you would want to delete Facebook Messenger. Here could be dozens of reasons why you would want to delete your Facebook Messenger application or deactivate your Messenger account Altogether. Following this guide will help you in restoring your online privacy.
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Reasons to Remove Gmail Account from a Device
Some who would come across this blog may wonder, why someone would want to remove the Gmail account, to begin with. After all, Gmail has a neat interface and moreover, it has the fastest email delivery and receiving service.
Well, it is not always because of any security concern a user might want to resort to the account removal process. Here are some valid reasons for the account removal.
- One of the main reasons you may want to go through this process of account removal is smartphone upgrade and sell. If you want to sell your smartphone for a new one, you surely do not want to leave your data on your device and let anyone access it. Right
- In some cases, you may have to lend your phone to someone and you do not want the other person peeking into your emails or sensitive data.
- In the event that your current Gmail account, tied to your smartphone, its OS or any application, seems not to function properly, you may want to re-add it. Understandably, you would need to remove it first before re-adding it.
The Consequences of Removing Gmail Account from a Device
After collecting your information, Facebook may use it in the following ways:
- Advertising: Facebook will use the information gathered about you to show you targeted marking communications and promotions.
- Sharing to third parties: Facebook works with a range of third-parties, which makes it possible that some of your data will be given to them. For example, if you play a game that uses a Facebook sign-in, the game developer will get access to information on your Facebook profile as well as data about your interactions with friends in the game.
- Personalize your experience: Based on your interactions on Facebook, the platform may suggest different events for you to attend or different people to connect with.
Is it safe to use Facebook?
After collecting your information, Facebook may use it in the following ways:
- Advertising: Facebook will use the information gathered about you to show you targeted marking communications and promotions.
- Sharing to third parties: Facebook works with a range of third-parties, which makes it possible that some of your data will be given to them. For example, if you play a game that uses a Facebook sign-in, the game developer will get access to information on your Facebook profile as well as data about your interactions with friends in the game.
- Personalize your experience: Based on your interactions on Facebook, the platform may suggest different events for you to attend or different people to connect with.
How does Facebook use my information?
After collecting your information, Facebook may use it in the following ways:
- Advertising: Facebook will use the information gathered about you to show you targeted marking communications and promotions.
- Sharing to third parties: Facebook works with a range of third-parties, which makes it possible that some of your data will be given to them. For example, if you play a game that uses a Facebook sign-in, the game developer will get access to information on your Facebook profile as well as data about your interactions with friends in the game.
- Personalize your experience: Based on your interactions on Facebook, the platform may suggest different events for you to attend or different people to connect with.
Unable to Deactivate Messenger Anymore?
Here’s the reason why
Ever since Facebook released a new update for the Facebook app and Facebook Messenger, users won’t be able to deactivate Facebook and can’t mess with photos unless they delete the app.
The thing has caused severe distress to many users who don’t have a choice of deactivating their account anymore. Now that Facebook has completely eradicated the option, there’s no other way than deleting the app.
To delete the Facebook Messenger Application, directly jump to the steps
For users who had the old version of the Facebook app, they used to follow the below steps to deactivate messenger from their iOS devices.
How to Deactivate Messenger on iOS devices
You can only deactivate Messenger if you previously deactivated your Facebook account.
To deactivate Messenger after you’ve disabled your Facebook account, follow the process:
- Open Messenger Application on your phone.
- Tap on your profile picture located in the top left corner.
- Select Legal & Policies > Deactivate Messenger.
- Finally tap Deactivate.
Similarly for Android users, the new Android version of Facebook Messenger does not have the option to deactivate messenger either.
However, for those who don’t have the latest version and haven’t updated the app yet, they can deactivate Messenger at some point with the steps below.
How to Deactivate Messenger on Android devices
- Open Messenger application.
- Tap your profile picture in the top left corner.
- Select Legal & Policies > Deactivate Messenger.
- Tap on Deactivate for the final time.
If you have updated the app and want to go off the grid entirely, you might want to consider permanently deleting your Facebook account and get rid of being bothered by people on messenger altogether.
Learn How to delete Facebook Account
You also have a good option to turn off all the notifications coming from the app by adjusting its settings from your phone or simply delete the facebook application from your phone.
How to Delete Facebook Messenger on Android?
To delete Facebook Messenger Application on Android, follow these steps:
- Find Google Play Store on your Android phone.
- Search for the Facebook Messenger Application by typing Facebook Messenger on search bar.
- Select the right application and tap on Uninstall.
- A Dialogue box will appear for confirmation, finally tap on OK to confirm uninstallation process.
How to Delete Facebook Messenger on iOS?
To delete Facebook Messenger on iOS, follow these steps:
- Tap and hold the Facebook Messenger icon.
- Tap the “x” in the icon’s top left corner.
- Tap Delete to confirm the uninstallation process.
Before You Delete: Download Your Facebook Messenger Chat History
Here is how you can download Facebook Data:
- Access Facebook Information page by clicking here.
- Click “View” right next to “Download Your Information“.
- Facebook gives you an option to choose which data you want to download. You can either download all the data shared on Facebook or only messenger data. To download all the data shared on Facebook click “Create File“. If you want to download only Messenger data deselect all the check boxes except messenger.
- Once done Facebook will send you notifications when your data is ready to be downloaded.
How to Remove Imported Contacts from Facebook Messenger?
You can’t view or delete imported contacts on your mobile device, and will have to visit the “Manage Imported Contacts for Messenger” page on a computer.
Simply follow these steps to remove your imported contacts from the app:
- Sign in to your Facebook account from a computer.
- Visit the Manage Imported Contacts for Messenger page.
- Click Delete All Contacts.
Is Facebook Messenger Safe and Private?
Facebook Messenger isn’t encrypted from end-to-end by default, so it could be possible for eavesdroppers or even Facebook to listen in on your conversations.
However, a “Secret Conversation” in Facebook Messenger is end-to-end encrypted. This means nobody can read the messages except the sender and recipient!
That said, it’s important to be wary when it comes to clicking on links/attachments and the content you’re sharing.
To learn about what piece of information Facebook collects from you, head over to Facebook Messenger Privacy policy.
If you are already using Facebook Messenger it means that you have given permission to Facebook to access your contacts, camera and microphone.
It is almost clear that Facebook and its other services are not private and safe for your online privacy.
In case, you don’t want to delete or deactivate your messenger, rather continue using it securely, you can use messenger vpn for your utmost security and privacy.
Do More to Stay Anonymous and Private Online!
If you’re wondering what can be done to improve your privacy and anonymity online, the following are some ways:
- Use PureVPN – While you can minimize the amount of data Google and Facebook collect on you, it still doesn’t stop your ISP from keeping track of what you’re doing on the Internet and sharing it with these very corporations and the government. To make your online activities truly private, using a VPN like PureVPN is essential.
- Limit App Permissions – By periodically checking and limiting app permissions on your smart device, you can protect yourself against untrustworthy app developers and gain more control over your privacy on the Internet.
- Install Privacy-Focused Extension and Search Engine – HTTPS Everywhere will ensure the communication between you and sites is always encrypted, while DuckDuckGo keeps your web searches a secret and doesn’t show you targeted advertisements.
Want to reclaim your online privacy? You might want to check below how to delete your account guides of social media platforms:
- How to delete my account of Skype
- How to delete zoom account
- How to delete youtube video
- How to delete discord account
- How to Remove Gmail Account from Your Smart Device
- How to Delete Your Google Search History Permanently
- How to Stop Someone from Spying On Your Cell Phone
- How to Permanently Delete Your Yahoo Account
- How to Delete Google Photos
- How to Protect Your Webcam from Being Hacked
- Delete Firefox Search Browsing History
- How to Hide Browser History from ISP
- How to Wipe A Phone
- How to Spoof your Location
- How to Delete Your Google Voice History
- How to Delete Safari on Mac or iOS
- How to Delete Pokémon Go Account Permanently
- How to Uninstall Dropbox from Your Desktop or Mobile