How Sticky Is Membership on Facebook? Just Try Breaking Free

nytimes.com

11 points·robg··3 comments

I attempted to delete my Facebook account over the last week and it has been a grueling experience. I tried to change my name to "Delete Me", but that name is on the list of names you're not allowed to change your name to.

I've had to go directly to Facebook "customer support". I was asked what email address I used to create my account. I answered with the email that I was using. I was then told that I couldn't have my account deleted because I needed to respond from one of the email addresses associated with my account. Yet, presumably they had some way to confirm the security question they gave me, regarding the address I used to set up the account. Doesn't that mean that the sign-up email is associated with the account? (Sorry to be repetitive here; it makes me dizzy, too.)

I'm slightly concerned that the reason they won't delete my data is that they've already sold it to Satan.

Surely filling all your personal information fields with obscenities and changing your name to something that insults facebook would get your account terminated. I haven't tried, but hopefully that would work. Anyone heard of doing this?

I have tried this, and it won't allow you to change your information to any common obscenities, etc. A message box pops up that says something like, "Please enter your real name." Maybe its possible if you get really creative, but I didn't have the patience to try.

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