As a small business owner, you likely use Facebook extensively for connecting with customers and promoting your brand. However, you may reach a point where you need to take a break from the platform. Deactivating your personal Facebook account on your iPhone is easy to do with just a few taps, but it‘s important to understand the implications fully before proceeding.
Why Entrepreneurs Consider Deactivating Facebook
There are a few key reasons small business owners contemplate deactivating or even deleting their personal Facebook accounts:
- Digital wellbeing – Facebook can be addictive and time-consuming. Deactivating provides a break to focus energy elsewhere.
- Privacy concerns – Many entrepreneurs share sensitive business info on Facebook that they later prefer to remove.
- Business separation – Keeping personal and professional presence separate can be beneficial for some.
According to industry surveys, over 54% of small business owners report spending more than 3 hours on Facebook daily. For busy entrepreneurs, deactivating provides time to refocus.
Step-by-Step Guide to Deactivate Your Account
Deactivating your Facebook account on iPhone is a quick process but here is an expanded walkthrough:
Access the Settings Menu
- Launch the Facebook app on your iPhone.
- Tap the ☰ menu button in the bottom right corner.
- Scroll down and select "Settings & Privacy" from the menu.
- On the next screen, choose "Settings".
- Scroll down on Settings and tap "Your Facebook Information".
- Select "Account Ownership and Control".
- Choose "Deactivation and Deletion" from the menu.
Select Deactivate Account
- Tap "Deactivate Account" and confirm when prompted.
- If you prefer to permanently delete, choose "Delete Account" instead. This will remove all your FB data.
- Facebook may ask you to provide a reason for deactivating. Be honest to help them improve.
Alternative Ways to Deactivate
You can also deactivate your Facebook account by:
- Visiting Facebook‘s Deactivation page on a desktop computer.
- Contacting Facebook customer support via chat or email to request deactivation.
How Deactivation Impacts Your Presence
When you deactivate your account, here‘s what happens:
- Profile hidden – Your profile, posts, and info will become invisible to others on Facebook.
- No notifications – You will stop receiving emails, messages, and notifications from Facebook.
- Limited visibility – Your name will still appear in friends‘ friends lists but greyed out.
- Some data visible – Certain data like messages you sent may still be visible.
- Business pages unaffected – Your business pages and ads will remain active even if personal account is deactivated.
Tip: Download a copy of your Facebook data before deactivating to retain photos, posts, and memories.
Reactivating Your Account
If you want to reactivate your Facebook account after deactivating, simply log back in using your credentials. Your profile and data will be restored as it was before deactivation.
However, keep in mind:
- It can take up to 24 hours for your profile to become fully visible again.
- Content like posts and photos may be lost if you wait over 30 days before reactivating.
- Some data like old messages may still be retrievable by other users.
Key Considerations Before Deactivating Facebook
While deactivating your personal Facebook account can provide a beneficial break for entrepreneurs, weigh the decision carefully:
- How will it impact your business marketing efforts? Rely less on Facebook ads.
- Do you have irreplaceable photos or memories saved? Back them up.
- Will you lose an important communication channel? Inform contacts.
- Is there a risk of decreasing visibility? Develop other channels.
For many entrepreneurs, deactivating Facebook provides an opportunity to refocus their energy and time. But approach the decision thoughtfully, taking into account both personal and business implications.
