Facebook has been part of our lives for several years, and through that time, we have unwittingly and knowingly shared tons of personal information on the platform. Some of that content, however, may now lead to privacy issues or simply be outdated. If you are looking to secure and declutter your Facebook account, you need to know delete 13 things from your Facebook.
1. Old Posts with Personal Information
In the course of time, you may have disclosed very private information such as your phone number, address, or even financial matters. Identity thieves can use such information. Check out all your previous Facebook posts and delete the ones that contain too much personal information.
2. Embarrassing or Regrettable Photos/Videos
Humans make mistakes, and we post regrets. It might be a topic to do with an awkward phase in life, previous relationships, or just a poor choice of the photo. Unpin photos/videos and just dump anything that you no longer want to represent you or which might cause your reputation any harm.
3. Outdated Relationship Statuses
Should your relationship status on your profile be that you are together, yet in reality, you are not, then changing it is the first thing to do. Carrying on with the old one can be problematic, as someone might ask you awkward questions or misunderstand you.
4. Third-Party App Permissions
Tons of software programs and games ask for your Facebook data. Even if you haven’t used them for a long time, some may still have access to your data. To confirm:
- Navigate to the Settings menu and then to the Apps and Websites section
- Uninstall those that are unfamiliar or that you no longer intend to use.
5. Tagged Photos You Don’t Want Public
It’s true that even with the utmost caution about your postings, friends can directly mention you in photos that are not flattering or of inappropriate content. Go over your tagged photos and take out those that you consider not good for your profile.
6. Old Friend Requests You Never Accepted
Gradually, your friend request inbox can be filled up by people who might be strangers to you or people with whom you don’t want to have a connection anymore. Clearing out unused friend requests will keep your network more relevant.
7. Birth Year in Your Public Profile
The people who pretend to be you may use the information about your birth year for their scams. It is perfectly acceptable to keep your birthday visible; however, it would be advisable for you to hide the year or set it as private in your profile settings.
8. Location Check-Ins from Sensitive Places
Sharing your exact location is certainly a bad idea. Posting your location in real-time, such as your home, work, or vacation place, is risky. Make sure you delete the old check-ins that can overly reveal your routine.
9. Fake or Duplicate Accounts
Another thing, if you have old accounts which are not in use anymore or if somebody is impersonating you by creating a fake profile, report and delete them so that no one gets confused and misuse of the situation does not happen.
10. Old Messages with Sensitive Info
There can be materials of various private nature in your Facebook Messenger, such as passwords, addresses, private talks, and so on, that you may have given in your conversations some time ago. Get rid of those chats that you feel are unnecessary or risky by deleting them.
11. Public Posts with Family Details
Do not reveal too much about your family members if they are to be kept unknown to the general public. In order to protect children’s privacy, delete the posts that provide information such as children’s full names, schools, or routines.
12. Groups You No Longer Engage With
In case you have signed up for various groups but you are not active there, you can withdraw from these groups. This way, not only will your feed be less crowded, but you will also receive fewer notifications.
13. Negative or Controversial Comments
Past arguments, offensive jokes, or heated debates can come back and damage your reputation. Remove comments that no longer represent your current self.
Final Thoughts
Consistent cleaning of your Facebook profile can safeguard your privacy and also make sure your digital footprint is in line with the new you. Allocate some time today to go through and erase 13 things – the ones you will become in the future, you will be grateful for.
