Introduction
Facebook stores almost all interactions you’ve had with the social network from your membership, including every time you sign in, the ads you clicked, the events you are invited to, the list of people you are following, your friends, your hometown, every time you send or receive a message, each status update, and more.
It’s basically the history of everything you did on Facebook. They are also the data that Facebook can use to learn more about you. When other people get unauthorized access to this data trove a lot can easily be discovered about you, as we have seen from the Cambridge Analytica scandal which is currently unfolding.
Here is how you can see what Facebook knows about you and how to download your own archive of this information. This can be useful especially if you plan to stop using the social media and take some of these memories with you.
Controlling your Facebook data begins by understanding the amount of your data stored on Facebook. The social network offers a self-help tool that gives you access to a large number of personal information. In fact, it’s a pretty simple process that lets you see all of your photos, videos, friends, contact information, messages, apps, and more that Facebook stores on their servers.
How To Download A Copy Of Your Facebook Data
Playboy recently joined Elon Musk, co-founder of WhatsApp Brian Acton and thousands of others around the world to eliminate their presence on Facebook after the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
If you’re wondering whether you want to press the delete button or not, or you’re just curious about the information stored about you, you’re in the right place.
It may be surprising, given what we now know about their data collection processes, Facebook now allows you to download all of your data relatively easy.
This process takes 10 minutes to 24 hours depending on the Facebook server activity. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1:
On the web, visit the General Account Settings page.
Step 2:
At the bottom of the general account settings, click Download a copy of your Facebook data.
Step 3:
Click “Start My Archive”.
Step 4:
Please enter your password and click Submit to continue.
Step 5:
Click Start My Archive to start the process of creating your Facebook file.
Step 6:
Click OK
Step 7:
Wait for a notification via email or Facebook to let you know that your Facebook file is ready for download.
Step 8:
Click Download file.
Step 9:
Enter your password and click Submit to download the Facebook file.
Conclusion
Your file will be downloaded as a ZIP file. Inside you will find four folders and a HTML page. By clicking on the HTML file a page will open in your browser where you can read your messages and other information from your facebook account. You can click the links below the profile image to the left to see what Facebook keeps. If you are wondering, yes, your time-line returns to the beginning.
You can use this guide to make a copy of your profile if you plan to leave the social network or if you just want to download a copy of your Facebook data. Never the less it’s just a reminder of what Facebook knows about you.
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Alessio Rigoli is the founder of AGR Technology and got his start working in the IT space originally in Education and then in the private sector helping businesses in various industries. Alessio maintains the blog and is interested in a number of different topics emerging and current such as Digital marketing, Software development, Cryptocurrency/Blockchain, Cyber security, Linux and more.
Alessio Rigoli, AGR Technology