AFTER its initial deluge of new users, it seems that the Facebook fad is wearing off. According to Web measurement firm Nielsen Online, the popular social networking site has suffered a 5 per cent drop in membership since last December.
Analysts attribute this to the growing realisation that putting up personal information on such sites can attract unwanted attention, from bosses to journalists. When Ashley Alexandra Dupre, 22, was revealed as the prostitute at the centre of the sex scandal that led to New York governor Eliot Spitzer's resignation, the New York Times managed to get hold of her biographical data and photographs from her MySpace page and published these, together with a link to the page. The page has since been taken down, but not after it registered over four millions visits.
However, deleting your social networking account can be difficult, as many have found to their dismay. Facebook, which up till recently only allowed users to 'deactivate' their accounts but not delete them, has been dubbed the 'Hotel California' site - you can check out any time, but you can never leave. It has since caved in to pressure and has included an option to delete your account. Accessing that option, however, remains tricky. Other social networking sites, such as Bebo and MySpace, make the deletion process much simpler.
So, if you think the party's over and it's time to return to real-life social networking, here are the steps to help you quit:
Facebook
If you want to deactivate your account, which removes your profile listing without deleting your data off the website:
Log in to Facebook.
Go to 'Account' at the top right of the page.
Click the 'Deactivate' option. You will then be asked to confirm deactivation, as well as the reason behind it (compulsory).
To delete your account permanently:
Log in to Facebook.
Go to 'Help' at the bottom right of the page.
Click 'Privacy and Security' and then 'Security'. Click 'I want to permanently delete my account'. You will then be directed to the account deletion page (finally), where you can access the account deletion form.
Check the box 'Remove my account from Facebook' and then click 'Submit'.
Told you it wasn't easy.
Friendster
To delete your account:
Log in to Friendster.
Go to the 'Settings' page at the top right of the page.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'Cancel Account'. You will then be directed to the account cancellation form.
Fill in the reasons why you want to leave Friendster, check the box 'Yes, I want to cancel my Friendster account' and then click 'Proceed'.
MySpace
To delete your account:
Log in to MySpace.
At the Home page, click 'Settings' in the Control Panel.
Click 'Cancel Account'. You will then be asked to confirm your decision. Click the 'Cancel My Account' button to permanently remove your account.
Bebo
To delete your account:
Log in to Bebo.
Go to 'My Account' at the top left of the page.
Under 'Cancel Membership', click the 'Cancel my account' link.
You will then be asked for your password and the reason for cancellation. Click the 'Yes, cancel my Bebo membership' button once you have filled them in.
This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life on 22 April 2008.
