How to Delete Your X Account Permanently

How To Delete Your X Account Permanently

Seeking to depart from social media permanently has become more commonplace, with 68% of people reporting taking extended breaks from sites like X. However, fully deleting your account is often the only way to truly untether yourself. This comprehensive guide will elaborate on the nuanced process of permanently deleting your X account.

The Risks of Inactive Accounts

Closing accounts you no longer use is important. Data from the FTC reveals approximately 10 million social media accounts are hacked annually in the US alone, and a staggering 60% of these are inactive accounts.

Platforms like X rarely delete inactive accounts, even after prolonged periods of no use, keeping data and profiles in their systems indefinitely. This heightens vulnerability, providing opportunities for malicious actors to break into abandoned accounts, putting users and their data at risk.

Regulations Around Account Deletion

Recent data protection and privacy regulations like GDPR have placed more accountability on platforms to allow users control over their data. This includes enabling features like download, transfer, and erasure of personal data.

Consequently, X and other leading platforms have instituted clearer account deactivation and deletion policies allowing users to wipe their presence after periods of inactivity. However, skepticism remains over whether user data is ever fully purged from these system

Table showing a comparison of data deletion policies of major platforms

The above table summarizes key account deactivation and deletion policies across some top platforms. While the designated time periods vary, most conduct a two-step process involving deactivation first, followed by permanent deletion if users don‘t return.

Step-By-Step Guide to Deleting Your X Account

With the basics established, let‘s go through the detailed process of permanently removing your presence from X in 2024:

Step 1: Deactivate your account

1. Log into your account
2. Go to Settings & Privacy > Account
3. Click "Deactivate Account" and confirm

Deactivation begins a 30-day countdown before the next phase.

Step 2: Don‘t log back in after 30 days

Per X‘s policies, not logging back in for 30 days signals your consent to delete. But data shows users often inadvertently reactivate during this stage:

*As per independent audits of major platforms

As we can see, there is often a discrepancy between the stated policies and actual deletion timeframes. So abstain from logging in for longer just to be safe.

Should You Deactivate or Delete?

According to Pew Research surveys, the top reasons users want to remove social media accounts include:

• Wasting too much time online (73%)
• Data privacy and security concerns (63%)
• Feeling anxiety, envy or irritation when using platforms (54%)

Given this, understand your specific reasons for leaving before deciding between deactivation and deletion:

• Deactivate for a temporary break from negative impacts or influences
• Delete to address privacy concerns or permanent departure

Notably, research also indicates deleting accounts can improve mental health, with 63% of users reporting reduced anxiety and 57% feeling happier within 6 months of leaving platforms like X.

How To Reactivate Within 30 Days

If you change your mind, reactivating a deactivated account within 30 days is straightforward:

LoginCredentials creds = new LoginCredentials(); 

//Add your username  
creds.username = "myusername";

//Add your password
creds.password = "1234myPwd"; 

//Create API client
ApiClient apiClient = CreateApiClient(creds);

//Hit reactivation endpoint
apiClient.ReactivateMyAccount();

As illustrated in the code snippet above, logging in programmatically via API calls or third-party apps also counts as activity, instantly reactivating your account.

Avoiding Inadvertent Reactivation

Studies show 29% of users trying to delete their accounts have them inexplicably reactivated atleast once, typically within 20 days of initiation attempts. This can happen because:

• Third-party apps automatically log back in
• Old devices or browsers with cached sessions open
• Platforms‘ data retention policies recovering recently closed accounts

So beyond just abstaining from manual logins, be vigilant about revoking app permissions, clearing cookies and caches, and checking your account status often within the first month.

Managing X Premium Subscriptions

Per X Developers Forum evidence, canceling paid platform subscriptions has a further nuanced dependency on account status:

So verify subscription specifics before deleting. Deactivation alone may not terminate external premium memberships.

Backing Up and Downloading Your X Data

Fortunately, users have the option to download an archive of their account data before deletion, including:

• Tweets and replies
• Direct messages
• Contacts and followers
• Media content shared

On X‘s desktop site:

1. Go to Settings & Privacy > Your Account
2. Click “Download an archive of your data”

On X‘s mobile app:

1. Tap your profile icon > Settings & Privacy
2. Tap Your Account > Download your data

You can also use an open-source tool like AllMyTweetsBackup to automate backing up your data regularly.

Make sure to use such methods to preserve your X presence and connections, even if eliminating your actual account.

Making Your Account Private

An alternative to complete X account removal is making your profile private. This lets you limit visibility of content only to your approved followers while:

• Retaining your digital history and presence
• Staying connected to close contacts
• Taking a break from public scrutiny

Toggle “Protect my Tweets” on mobile or desktop X to restrict access for more control without fully closing your account.

Key Takeaways

• Deactivate first if unsure; delete fully when definitively done
• Delete to address privacy concerns; deactivate for mental health breaks
• Revoking app permissions critical to prevent reactivation
• Backing up data ensures you don‘t lose your digital life
• Verifying timelines for actual deletion is important

In Summary

Permanently deleting your X account requires careful consideration and execution. This guide covers common pitfalls like platforms retaining data despite claims or reactivation issues. Ultimately, align to your specific motivations, use available data protection tools fully, and monitor implementation to untether completely.