Instagram is a wildly popular (and often lucrative) photo and video-sharing social network, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming, which raises the question of whether it's worth putting in that much effort. When the intention was to spend a few minutes, it's easy to fall into endless scrolling through fascinating photos.
Social media influencers often put extra time trying to build a following and when it doesn't happen as quickly as expected, it can be frustrating. Studies have also linked Instagram use to things like depression, body image concerns, low self-esteem, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
For whatever reason, moving away can feel like a relief and ease what may start to feel like a burden. If you want to Delete Your Instagram Account, then this article will walk you through the process.
How To Save Instagram Account Data Before Deleting
Even if you do intend to delete your account, a moment should be taken to consider whether any information may be needed from that account in the future. Deleting Instagram account is permanent and everything is cleared so it is time to review and save the data before taking the plunge and letting it go.
To download Instagram account data, the user should open the Settings menu, click on Privacy and security, then download and request data download. A link to the content will be created and sent to the preferred email address.
There is an option to choose HTML or JSON. HTML is usually the best choice as it is compatible with web browsers. JSON is a structured data format that is useful in certain situations when importing into another service.
Account password is required, even if already logged in. After you tap on Request Download, the request will be processed by Instagram, which can take up to 48 hours.
Finally, an email with the download link and additional instructions will be sent. The downloading can be done from the app but it is faster when handled through computer as it can hold huge amount of data.
How To Permanently Delete An Instagram Account
Instagram accounts can currently be deleted by visiting the webpage via a mobile or desktop browser. While some Instagram users may have a deletion option in their iOS or Android app settings, this is not an officially supported feature and Instagram currently states that there is no way to delete accounts from within the app.
Deleting an Instagram account is relatively easy, but it should not be done lightly, especially for older accounts that may have several years of images, videos, and comments. After deletion, none of this information will be retained unless previously saved. As mentioned above, there are many ways to restrict access, block troublesome accounts, and even temporarily disable an account, with deleting an account should be the last resort.
To proceed to delete an Instagram account, a user can open the link given below to go to the Delete Your Account page of Instagram.
A reason is needed, but it can be as vague as choosing something else if there is no desire to share this information with Instagram. The account password must be entered, even if already logged in. By clicking on the delete button, Instagram will start the process.
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How to Undelete Your Instagram Account
Once you start the account deletion process, the profile of the account being deleted will be immediately hidden and 30 days countdown will start after which all data associated with that account will be permanently deleted. It is possible to undelete only by logging in again before the completion of 30 days.
If you wait too long and that 30-day window expires, you'll be out of luck: the account will run out and you'll have to sign up again and start over with a blank slate. If someone else grabbed your username while the account was deleted, you'll also need to create a new username for your new account.
Do You Really Need To Delete Your Instagram Account?
If deleting an Instagram account completely sounds a little scary, then it should. Everything in the account will be lost unless it is backed up first and it may not be possible to sign up again with the same username. While Instagram makes it relatively easy to delete an account, sometimes it's not really necessary as an account can also be temporarily disabled.
If the account has become burdened with spam or is targeted by some angry people, it may be better to block annoying accounts or limit who can interact by setting the account to private so that only approved followers can see the post.
Even though the overall feeling of Instagram may be painful at the moment, some time away may be enough to make it feel like a peaceful and pleasant place again. Deleting an Instagram account cannot be undone, so if that's the plan, it might be a good idea to save the data before permanently trashing everything posted and shared in the comments.
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How To Temporarily Disable an Instagram Account
To temporarily disable an Instagram account, a user must sign in through a computer. There is no way to do this from the mobile app, however, as some tablets, such as the iPad, allow viewing of the desktop version of the website and can be used if a laptop or desktop is not readily available.
From Instagram.com, the user should log in to the account that is to be disabled, then click on the profile image that appears in the upper-right side of the browser window and select Profile from the menu that appears. This loads the user's Instagram profile page. Username and other details can be edited by clicking the Edit Profile button. Scrolling down will also find an option to temporarily disable my account.
Clicking this link loads a confirmation page asking Instagram why the account is being disabled. There is an option for 'something else' if not in a mood to share the reason. To proceed, the account password will need to be re-entered. This hides the account, making it appear that the account has been deleted. However, this change takes some time to happen, usually about a day.
Disabling an account is much faster than deleting and it is easier to re-enable the account after some time. To restore the account to the active state, the user just needs to login again.
How To Block Instagram Accounts
If the idea of deleting an Instagram account is based on unwanted interactions with other Instagram users, blocking those accounts may be an alternative solution to make Instagram feel like a friendly place to re-share photos and videos. .
When an account is blocked, the owner will not be notified. This simply removes that account's ability to see the user's posts and any past and future conversations are hidden. Blocking can be undone, so it should not be a permanent decision. Instead, it is a tool that allows a troublesome conversation to go away for as long as it is deemed necessary.
There are three easy ways to block an account from the Instagram app or website. From the profile of the account to be blocked, the user can tap on the three dots on the top right and select Block to see a list of options. If starting with a direct message from the harassing account, the name at the top of the chat can be tapped to reveal the Block option.
It is also possible to block an account through the app without viewing any of that account's content. Users can go to their own profile, tap the More menu "hamburger icon," which looks like three horizontal lines in the upper-right, then Settings to see more options.
In the Privacy section, tapping on Blocked accounts will show a list of each of the blocked accounts. Tapping the plus button in the upper-right shows a list of accounts that are being followed. Tapping the block button next to any account will do so for that account immediately.
It is also possible to find an account by using the search field at the top and filling in the keywords. Matching accounts will be shown with a block button next to each. Whatever method is used, there is also an option to block newly created accounts, which is especially helpful for worrying accounts that may try to get blocked.
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How To Restrict Instagram Accounts
It is also possible to ban annoying Instagram accounts and a less extreme way of limiting unwanted comments. While banning an account hides their comments on a user's posts, messages are still allowed. Previous comments are retained and new comments may be approved at the user's discretion.
How To Make An Instagram Private Account
If there are too many annoying accounts or comments to easily block and delete them all, it might make more sense to make the Instagram account private. If this is done, only approved followers will be able to see the posts, likes and comments.
The profile image and biography of a private account will be visible to anyone as long as they are not blocked. The only way to stop this is to remove the profile image and bio, but as a public face for the account, it's usually better to limit the amount of information shared when there's a concern.
Conclusion
While an Instagram account can be a fun pastime, a business venture or even a hobby, there can be good reasons to delete an account permanently. It is usually relatively easy to block the abusive behavior of others. Embarrassing conversations can be restricted and an account can be private or even temporarily disabled to avoid massive concerns. In some cases, an account may simply be unused or never taken care of.
By deleting an abandoned account, it frees up the username of the account to be used by someone else, while avoiding the risk of the unused account being hacked. Whether to further protect an account or delete it entirely, keep in mind that it is possible to have more than one Instagram account to provide some isolation and make Instagram a fun and useful social media experience.
