Instagram Adds Option to Delete Account in iOS App to Comply With App Store Rules

[MacRumors]

Instagram this week implemented support for a new option that allows an Instagram account to be deleted directly within the Instagram app. Instagram is now in compliance with an updated App Store Guideline that requires all apps that offer account creation to also offer account deletion.

Apple told developers that apps offering account creation must also support account deletion starting on June 30, 2022, so Instagram waited for the deadline to add the feature.

According to Apple's guidelines, apps must make it easy for users to find the account deletion option, and it is insufficient for an app to offer to temporarily disable or deactivate an account. An account must be able to be deleted, along with all personal data.

As noted by TechCrunch, prior to now Instagram users had to log into a web browser on a desktop computer or a mobile device to delete their accounts. There was also an in-app option for deactivating account, but as mentioned up above, Apple is requiring full account deletion options.

Instagram accounts can be deleted in the Instagram app by opening up the settings, selecting account, and choosing the delete account option. Instagram lets users choose between deleting or deactivating their account, with the delete option removing all content permanently.

There is a 30-day period in which you can change your mind about deleting your account because Apple's guidelines allow for a delay before an account is permanently removed. Those who log back into Instagram after requesting deletion will be able to stop the deletion.

In a statement to TechCrunch, Instagram said that it wanted to "give people more ways to control their experience and time spent on Instagram," without mentioning that it is an Apple requirement.

Article Link: Instagram Adds Option to Delete Account in iOS App to Comply With App Store Rules

 

[sniffies]

Sure, the frontend side of things may be deleted, but the backend (including all your data) is never fully purged, especially by the companies like Facebook. And there's nothing you or anyone can do about it. Unless their servers are seized by FBI and intentionally destroyed, your data will live on forever. You'll have to pry those servers from Zuck's cold, dead hands.

 

[ddtmm]

and it is insufficient for an app to offer to temporarily disable or deactivate an account. An account must be able to be deleted, along with all personal data.

You gotta know that ain’t gonna happen on the backend.

 

[contacos]

Sure, the frontend side of things may be deleted, but the backend (including all your data) is never fully purged, especially by the companies like Facebook. And there's nothing you or anyone can do about it. Unless their servers are seized by FBI and intentionally destroyed, your data will live on forever. You'll have to pry those servers from Zuck's cold, dead hands.

That would be illegal under GDPR but for some reason they only seem to go after small players, so who knows

 

[antiprotest]

and it is insufficient for an app to offer to temporarily disable or deactivate an account. An account must be able to be deleted, along with all personal data.

You gotta know that ain’t gonna happen on the backend.

Yeah I assume

"deactivated" means "not deleted, but suspended and visible to you," and

"deleted" means "not deleted, but suspended and hidden from you."

 

[now i see it]

Wish they had an app delete button in the App Store update list

 

[JKAussieSkater]

Sure, the frontend side of things may be deleted, but the backend (including all your data) is never fully purged, especially by the companies like Facebook. And there's nothing you or anyone can do about it. Unless their servers are seized by FBI and intentionally destroyed, your data will live on forever. You'll have to pry those servers from Zuck's cold, dead hands.

You gotta know that ain’t gonna happen on the backend.

Yeah I assume

"deactivated" means "not deleted, but suspended and visible to you," and

"deleted" means "not deleted, but suspended and hidden from you."

I don't mean to insult any of you, but that suspicion seems more like paranoid speculation than a knowing presumption.

Assuming companies properly delete account data and purge the information rather than hoarding it, Apple has made an excellent policy here that I hope will become industry standard or a legislated regulation.

 

[sw1tcher]

Yeah I assume

"deactivated" means "not deleted, but suspended and visible to you," and

"deleted" means "not deleted, but suspended and hidden from you."

Deleted means not deleted but "anonymized" so Facebook can still use the anonymized data to provide to marketers but none of it can be tied directly to the user.

 

[jz0309]

The best solution for this - don’t sign up in the first place.

 

[antiprotest]

I don't mean to insult any of you, but that suspicion seems more like paranoid speculation than a knowing presumption.

Assuming companies properly delete account data and purge the information rather than hoarding it, Apple has made an excellent policy here that I hope will become industry standard or a legislated regulation.

Actually we have more than enough leaks and hacks throughout the years to know that this is not paranoia but basically routine. Companies that say they encrypt everything? Everything in plain text. Companies that say they delete everything? Everything is saved. Companies that say they do not sell your data? Everything is sold. Companies that say they keep no VPN logs? Everything is logged.

There is just another VPN company exposed this week -- the logs, together with other data, could possibly even identify the individual users. Of course, not every company lies about everything, but you don't know which one is lying. And there are also unintentional mistakes. Apple does not e2e encrypt a lot of things, and could be social engineered into offering data, and as reported on this site, may have done so to fake cops. True e2e would have made this impossible.

I am not even paranoid about it. Kind of desensitized to be honest.

 

[Psychicbob]

How about an option to delete Instagram, the company?

 

[BigBlur]

Wish they had an app delete button in the App Store update list

They do. Swipe left on the app…

 

[GermanSuplex]

Excellent requirement by Apple. It's so annoying browsing through multiple webpages or, even worse, having to call or email customer service to have an account closed, especially given that its not like in the old days when people only had one or two logins for an email or their favorite webpage. Nowadays, damn near everything requires an email or password, amounting to hundreds of passwords and accounts on various sites/platforms.

Being able to go to an app, delete the account and then delete the application is a win for consumers.

 

[sw1tcher]

I don't mean to insult any of you, but that suspicion seems more like paranoid speculation than a knowing presumption.

Assuming companies properly delete account data and purge the information rather than hoarding it, Apple has made an excellent policy here that I hope will become industry standard or a legislated regulation.

https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/9d8e069d-2670-4530-bcdc-d3a63a8831c4/7C8DE61421D13E86FC6855CC2EA7AEA7.senate-commerce-committee-combined-qfrs-06.11.2018.pdf

Question 11. Mr. Zuckerberg, how does Facebook determine whether and for how long to store user data or delete user data?

In general, when a user deletes their account, we delete things they have posted, such as their photos and status updates, and they won’t be able to recover that information later. (Information that others have shared about them isn’t part of their account and won’t be deleted.)

There are some limited exceptions to these policies: For instance, information can be accessed and preserved for an extended period when it is the subject of a legal request or obligation, governmental investigation, or investigations of possible violations of our terms or policies, or otherwise to prevent harm. We also retain information from accounts disabled for terms violations for at least a year to prevent repeat abuse or other term violations.


Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but nowhere does Mark Zuckerberg say Facebook deletes personal data, just the things users "have posted." He completely avoids directly answering the question which asked how Facebook determines "whether and for how long to store user data or delete user data"

 

[tomnavratil]

I don't mean to insult any of you, but that suspicion seems more like paranoid speculation than a knowing presumption.

Assuming companies properly delete account data and purge the information rather than hoarding it, Apple has made an excellent policy here that I hope will become industry standard or a legislated regulation.

To be honest considering how Facebook builds their shadow profiles and holds information on individuals without a profile, I would be skeptical too.

They - probably - anonymize data (at least on some level) but that data is not removed. Not saying they can connect it back to a user but with the amount of connections and data points they hold, most likely they could.

 

[erikkfi]

"Delete my account please."

Deactivate your account instead of deleting?

Yes, deactivate
no, delete

 

[tomnavratil]

"Delete my account please."

Deactivate your account instead of deleting?

Yes, deactivate
no, delete

Some would argue it's good UX considering one decision is permanent and damaging to a user, some would argue it's simply a Dark pattern.

 

[JosephAW]

Too bad Apple didn’t invent a video and picture format that self destructs after set time and archives can’t be viewed after expiration date.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Damn you apple.. you’re always screwing us the consumers, hold on no I mean us the developers, no us… oh wait.

 

[Rogifan]

I wish they had an option to undo their latest software update. 🤢

 

[cupcakes2000]

I don't mean to insult any of you, but that suspicion seems more like paranoid speculation than a knowing presumption.

Assuming companies properly delete account data and purge the information rather than hoarding it, Apple has made an excellent policy here that I hope will become industry standard or a legislated regulation.

Hmmmm. I wonder why there is a rush to end a sole App Store. Surely it can’t be to allow these rules to be bent more easily. Hold on, let me think on it a moment. #goconsumersforthewin #gobblegobblefarmergilessaidthatifimagoodturkeyicangotochristmasthisyear

 

[StudioMacs]

I don't mean to insult any of you, but that suspicion seems more like paranoid speculation than a knowing presumption.

Assuming companies properly delete account data and purge the information rather than hoarding it, Apple has made an excellent policy here that I hope will become industry standard or a legislated regulation.

Early in 2018, Mark Zuckerberg admitted in a congressional hearing that Facebook collects information on people who are not Facebook users. They have profiles for people who never created one, and you seriously think they are going to delete a profile full of information they own because you clicked a button?

 

[cupcakes2000]

Early in 2018, Mark Zuckerberg admitted in a congressional hearing that Facebook collects information on people who are not Facebook users. They have profiles for people who never created one, and you seriously think they are going to delete a profile full of information they own because you clicked a button?

This is well documented and based around the like button and general internet tracking. This is the type of thing that Apple (and other companies if you research it) are dead against and why they are generally considered a better choice for privacy.

If you close your account they MUST delete their data on you. (EU citizen here - ymmv) If they collect their data sans account, then it’s shady and it’s you who must combat it.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

All we need now is an option to delete IG itself.

 

[CalMin]

Admittedly, years ago, but I tried to make a second FaceBook profile that was sort of anonymous for a little project I was working on. I decided against it and 'deleted' the account. However, some weeks later I was logging on to my main account on a different device, a message popped up offering to restore my deleted account and it had everything still in there. They hadn't deleted anything.

That's pretty much when I realized just how data hungry and immoral these guys were.