How to Delete an Instagram Account?
One of the most used social media across the world, with over 1 billion active users, is Instagram. Still, at times, one needs to step back from the constant updates and notifications. Be it for mental health reasons, privacy reasons, or just to take a break, many people consider deactivating their accounts on Instagram. Now, the real question is, how long can you deactivate your Instagram account? This post will answer that for you.
Problem
Need to log out from Instagram
Any social media network, be it Instagram or any other, can grow colossal. Incessant streak of information gathering, updating yourself, and staying updated about others is stressful and anxiety-provoking. Countless people find themselves rolling down their feeds for hours at a stretch, dropping productivity and affecting mental health negatively.
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According to a report by the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK, Instagram is the largest negative interference with the mental health of young people among all social media. The effects include anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Thus, it is no surprise that many users would think of leaving Instagram.
What are the drawbacks of permanent deletion?
Deleting your Instagram account is a big deal with some major drawbacks. Here are the key points:
1. Data
When you delete your account, all of your photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers are removed forever. This data cannot be recovered once it’s deleted.
Connections
You will lose all of your followers, and the connections you built up. If you have a huge following or are using Instagram for networking, this could be a big loss.
3. Business or Personal Brand
For an influencer, business, or anyone using Instagram as a platform to promote their brand, permanent deletion is equivalent to no marketing tool. At the same time, rebuilding from scratch might get hard.
4. Missed Updates
You will no longer have any updates from your friends, family, or any accounts you’re following. This could make it more of a challenge to stay in contact with people involved in your social network.
5. No going back
When your account is deleted permanently, there is no getting it back. If you decide later that you actually want the account back, you’ll need to start all over again and create another one.
6. Memories
Many times, Instagram serves as a digital scrapbook of memories; permanent deletion thus means that these are irrecoverable, unless you back them up somewhere else.
7. Rebuilding
In case you change your mind and return to Instagram at a later stage in life, you will have to work hard to set up a new account, rediscover and refollow all your friends, and rebuild much of the content and engagement you had built up until now.
While permanently deleting your Instagram account can give you a clean break from social media, be sure to weigh these drawbacks carefully. If you are still in doubt, consider deactivation instead. That way, you can take a time-out and not lose everything permanently .
Success stories of people who permanently deleted their accounts
Here are some people who permanently deleted their accounts and changed their lives for the better:
1. Jody’s Story
Jody, 40, reached a point where she deleted Instagram and Facebook for good. She was aware that social media consumed her with too much time, even at the expense of her mental health. Upon deletion of her accounts, she said she was more present in everyday life, more linked with family and friends. “I know I will never look back and think, ‘Gosh, I wish I had spent more time on social media.’ “1
2. Fanny’s Story
Fanny, 38, deleted her Instagram account when she felt overwhelmed by 2020: pandemic and social justice issues. It gave her space to take care of her mental health, said Fanny, who added that not being bombarded by a steady stream of updates and notifications made her feel more peaceful, less anxious1.
3. Chrissy Teigen’s Break
Even social media queen Chrissy Teigen, who is a perfect example of ruling on social media, broke Twitter (a sort of sister platform to Instagram in terms of the social ways of interacting). She said it was for the sake of her mental health. Though she returned, her momentary leave proved that sometimes it’s necessary to just step back when social media isn’t serving a purpose1.
4. Kate’s Clients
According to Kate Rosenblatt, a therapist and senior clinical manager at Talkspace, many of her clients have deleted their social media accounts or taken digital detoxes. They felt a huge difference in their mental health with reduced social media use, which helped them get back into the real world and focus on themselves.
What are some alternatives to Instagram?
A way to share your photos and videos, stories, another way of using social media, a platform distinct with unique features; Here are the best alternatives to Instagram:
snapchat
Snaps: Send photos and videos that disappear after being viewed.
Stories: Create stories which last 24 hours
Filters and Lenses: Fun filters and lenses to enhance your photos and videos
Snap Map: Share your location with friends, see where they are on the map.
Twitter
Features
Tweets: Share short updates with your followers. Limited to 280 characters.
Trends and Hashtags: Find and contribute to trending topics and hashtags.
Retweets: You can share content from other users with your followers.
Direct Messages: You can privately message other users
9. Reddit
Features
Subreddits: You can join communities called subreddits.
Upvote or downvote posts and comments to make them appear. Discussion Talk about anything. AMA Ask public figures and experts anything.
How can I take a break from social media without permanent deletion?
One of the best ways you recharge Taking a break from social media without permanent deletion. Here’s how: Log Out: Just log out and the urge to see what’s happening will decrease. Turn Off Notifications: Turn off push notifications.
Set Time Bounds: Begin using screen time management tools to help you limit your use per day.
Uninstall Apps: Remove social media apps from your phone; you can always install them later on.
Tell Your Contacts: Send the word down the line to your friends and followers that you will be away so that they don’t get worried about your disappearance.
Find Alternatives: Read, work out, spend time with your loved ones—whatever you’d normally do on social media.
FOMO break can be tough
Remind Yourself of the Good: Focus on what’s good about your break – better mental health, more free time, less stress.
Stay Connected in Real-Life: Spend time with friends and family in person. This will make you feel more connected and less dependent on social media.
Do Something Else: Take up a hobby or reignite a lost interest. If you are occupied with things that matter to you, the tendency to engage in social media will be significantly lower.
Be mindful: With the help of meditation and breathing exercises, be present, and you will forget about FOMO.
Have Realistic Expectations: It is okay to miss out on a few things. All that happens on social media is not significant or even real.
Limit Your Exposure: Consider limiting your time of exposure to social media if you really have to keep yourself updated.
The final step is to deactivate your Instagram account.
Steps
To deactivate an Instagram account, the following steps should be taken:
Sign In: You need to sign into your Instagram by using either mobile or computer browsers.
Access to Profile: You have to click the ‘Edit Profile’ button and access your profile.
Click on ‘Disable’: Now, scroll down and click the ‘Temporarily disable my account’ link.
Reason Selection: Select from the drop down menu a reason why you are deactivating your account.
Password Confirmation: Re-enter your password.
Final Step: Click ‘Temporarily Disable Account’.
Your all ready! congratulations. Smile and take good care of yourself. Enjoy your life without instagram.
Must read summary
Good for when you just want to get off of social media. Instagram allows you to deactivate for as long as you want, and none of your data or followers are lost in the process. From needing a little digital detox to personal problems, disabling your account simply means you can return whenever you feel like.
Good 👍