In recent months, many Facebook users have reported that their accounts have been deleted or disabled by Facebook. There are a few main reasons why Facebook takes action against accounts:
Violating Facebook’s Terms of Service or Community Standards
Facebook has extensive terms of service and community standards that users agree to follow when they create an account. Violating any of these rules could result in Facebook disabling or deleting the account. Some of the most common violations include:
- Using a fake name or impersonating another person
- Sharing hate speech, bullying, or harassing other users
- Posting spam, scams, or other content intended to deceive users
- Sharing nudity, pornography, or explicit sexual content
- Promoting violence or illegal activity
If Facebook determines a user has severely or repeatedly broken any of these rules, they may delete the account without warning.
Inactive Accounts
Facebook regularly scans for accounts that have been inactive for extended periods of time. If an account has no activity – likes, comments, logins – for several months or years, Facebook may delete it due to inactivity. The intention is to clear out old unused accounts and free up names for new users.
Fake or Suspicious Accounts
Facebook has sophisticated systems in place to detect fake or suspicious accounts that may be spam, bots, or scams. Some signs an account may be fake include:
- No profile photo or personal information
- Recently created and has friend requested many users quickly
- Posts clickbait, irrelevant links or content copied from other sources
- Has engagement from accounts displaying similar suspicious behavior
If an account appears to only exist to send spam or clicks, drive traffic to external sites, or artificially boost engagement, Facebook will delete it.
Hacked or Compromised Accounts
Sometimes a user’s account may become hacked or compromised by an external party. The hackers can then use the account to send spam, post offensive material or conduct other policy-violating behavior through it. In these cases, Facebook may disable the account to prevent further misuse until the rightful owner can recover it through the account recovery process.
Enforcing Copyrights and Trademarks
Facebook respects the intellectual property rights of others. If they receive valid reports that an account is persistently sharing copyright-protected content or using trademarked content or brands without permission, Facebook may take action against the account for IP violations, including deletion.
Government Requests
In some cases, Facebook may be compelled to disable or delete accounts by valid legal requests from government entities. Reasons may include serious illegal activity conducted through the account or violations of local laws. Facebook publishes transparency reports on the number and nature of governmental requests they receive.
Accidental Actions by Users
In rare cases, users may accidentally delete their own accounts by initiating the account deletion process and confirming the action. Reasons this could happen unintentionally include:
- Thinking the delete option was something else
- Letting children or others use devices while logged into Facebook
- Clicking links to delete for a different service but doing so while logged into Facebook
If this occurs, users can go through Facebook’s account recovery process to regain access if done soon after deletion.
Bugs and Errors
Given the massive scale of Facebook’s platform, bugs and errors can occasionally lead to accounts being mistakenly deleted. While rare, bugs disabling accounts do occur, especially when new code is deployed. Facebook typically remedies these issues swiftly and restores access to affected users.
How does Facebook notify users about deleted accounts?
When Facebook disables or deletes an account, they attempt to notify the user by sending an email to the address associated with the account. The email usually explains why the action was taken and whether or not the user can appeal the decision. However, sometimes the email ends up in the user’s spam folder rather than their inbox.
If a user finds their account suddenly disabled without receiving an email, they can try searching their spam folders for a notification from Facebook. They can also use Facebook’s account recovery form to request a review of the account status.
Can a user recover or reactivate a deleted Facebook account?
In most cases, yes – if the account was accidentally or wrongfully disabled, users can request to restore it through Facebook’s account recovery process. This involves:
- Filling out the account recovery form: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/260749603972907
- Providing details like your name, email or phone number linked to the account, and any other info you have
- If possible, uploading a photo ID to help confirm identity
Facebook’s security team reviews these requests and reactivates accounts that were mistakenly or unfairly deleted. However, accounts deleted for severe, deliberate policy violations are typically not able to be restored.
What happens when an account is permanently deleted?
If an account is permanently deleted either by the user or Facebook, most of its data is removed from Facebook’s systems within 90 days. This includes:
- Profile information
- Photos, videos, posts
- Comments and reactions
- Group memberships
In some cases data may persist if it was already aggregated, archived or cached elsewhere before deletion. But overall the account and its primary content will be erased.
The user will lose access to the account and the ability to recover any of its data. The username/vanity URL will become available for new accounts to claim.
Deleted accounts cannot be reactivated unless done very soon after deletion. Permanent deletion is designed to be irreversible.
What should users do if their account is wrongly deleted?
If you believe your account was disabled or deleted unfairly by mistake, the best option is using Facebook’s account recovery form to appeal the decision. Be sure to provide as much relevant context and proof of ownership as possible.
Some other tips include:
- Check all linked email addresses for a notification from Facebook
- Search spam folders just in case the notice was misfiled
- If you have another account, use it to search for the deleted profile to double check
- Ask friends/followers if they can still see your account
- Explain clearly in the recovery form why your account should not have been deleted
With valid proof of ownership and explanation, there is a good chance Facebook support can restore wrongly deleted accounts. But they may decline requests for accounts deleted for serious, deliberate violations of policy.
Can a user download their information before deletion?
Yes, if a user is planning to delete their Facebook account or it has already been disabled, they can use Facebook’s download tool to export a copy of their information:
- Go to Settings > Your Facebook Information
- Click “Download your Information”
- Select date range and types of info you want
- Enter password and complete captcha to confirm request
- Facebook will assemble the archive and email a download link when ready (within a few days typically)
This provides a comprehensive archive with your photos, posts, comments, friends list, and other account details. It’s a good idea to do this before voluntarily deleting your account, or if you find it was already disabled to help gather information for the recovery request.
Conclusion
Facebook deletes accounts for a variety of reasons, ranging from violations of policies to suspicious behavior, inactive use, or legal requirements. Users are typically notified by email when disablement occurs, and can appeal wrongful deletions through the account recovery form. While reversals are possible in many cases, severe or repeated violations usually result in permanent account removal. By understanding the most common reasons for account deletions, users can avoid behaviors that place their accounts at risk.
| Year | Accounts Deleted (approx) | Main Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 10 million | Spam, fake accounts |
| 2011 | 30 million | Policy violations, fake/duplicate accounts |
| 2012 | 60 million | Spam, bots, suspicious activity |
| 2013 | 100 million | Policy and community standards enforcement |
| 2014 | 150 million | Fake and compromised accounts |
| 2015 | 185 million | Scams, impersonation, harassment |
| 2016 | 200 million | Hate speech, terrorism, fake news |
| 2017 | 270 million | Disinformation, policy violations |
| 2018 | 1.5 billion | Broad Fake account purge |
| 2019 | 2.1 billion | Policy violations, inactive accounts |
| 2020 | 2.5 billion | Inactive, duplicate accounts |
| 2021 | 3.2 billion | Spam, scams, malinformation |