The Guardian’s explosive report on Cambridge Analytica’s privacy violation of using of data compiled by Facebook to help shape the outcome the 2016 election has led to a growing backlash dubbed #DeleteFacebook. The “information warfare,” which was shaped by Steve Bannon and Breitbart money-man Robert Mercer to help the Trump campaign is now under investigation in the United Kingdom and the United States, with Facebook left without an explanation of how Cambridge Analytica acquired the information of 50 million users.

Now people are taking matters into their own hands, calling to #DeleteFacebook. In the ensuing fallout, Facebook’s security chief has reportedly walked away from the company after disagreeing with how they should handle disinformation, and the company’s stock plunged nearly five percent by the time the closing bell rang on Wall Street Monday.

Finally deleted my @facebook account. If you're angry about what facebook has done with our data then just #deletefacebook We all moved on from MySpace we can move on from facebook too. Remember we aren't the customers we are the product #CambridgeAnalytica — Eric (@ecarpen) March 17, 2018

They suspended the whistleblower, Christopher Wylie! Then threatened to sue The Guardian if the story came out. Facebook is not who we thought they were. #DeleteFacebook — Dennis Syrja (@FinnDen) March 17, 2018

The Cambridge Analytica scandal now up to 5th place in the list of reasons to delete Facebook behind 4. Racist uncles

3. Aunts sharing shite memes

2. Screenshots of jokes you saw on Twitter 4 days ago

1. It’s just a creche for morons — Oldfirmfacts (@Oldfirmfacts1) March 19, 2018

Attacker: [fraudulently exfiltrates huge amounts of data from Facebook]

Facebook: Hey, delete that bro, okay?

Attacker: Okay, I guess.

<Three years pass>

Facebook: You really deleted it?

Attacker: Nah — Alt US Cyber Command (@AltCyberCommand) March 17, 2018

Facebook and Google make money from selling your data and tweaking their algorithms to target and manipulate you. Never forget that, it’s that simple. If you dislike it then delete your accounts and stop using their services. This latest scandal is the tip of a giant iceberg. — Tom Warren (@tomwarren) March 18, 2018

You're right it's not a spy movie; spies sometimes possess cogent ethical frameworks and live by them. Here is @CamAnalytica's CEO, Alexander Nix, using a tortured private beach analogy to explain why lying to the public is a-okay with him. #Resistance #Resist #DeleteFacebook pic.twitter.com/frjBUYL0kf — Alt US Cyber Command (@AltCyberCommand) March 17, 2018



But deleting and walking away isn’t so simple for some. Facebook has become an institution and such a part of people’s lives, many of whom may not be political on the platform, and they may not want to delete their accounts. It’s how they keep in touch with family and old friends and share pictures.

"Delete your Facebook" is easy to say. But for some people that means cutting ourselves off from regular and easy access to family members, friends, and loved ones that live on the other side of the planet. There has to be an alternative to just eliminating that connection. — Erin Biba (@erinbiba) March 18, 2018

If you want to delete Facebook, go ahead. Just know that's a privilege.

For much of the world, Facebook is the internet and only way to connect to family/friend/business. That's why its important to have a real discussion re Facebook's security/privacy issues. — Sheera Frenkel (@sheeraf) March 18, 2018

And for those who plan on moving forward to delete their accounts, the reality is setting in: they’ve spent years accumulating pictures, videos, and memories. Now what? Even if they deactivate and/or delete their page, Facebook will still have it sitting, ready and waiting on a server somewhere. And is there any way to move all of their pictures to a hard drive simply and efficiently?

Does anyone know how to dowload over 10 years worth of photos & videos off my Facebook page? I want to delete FB but don't want to lose them. — Jacqueline Perdue (@perdue_jrp) March 19, 2018

Have a Facebook account which I almost never post on. But how do I delete it and its contents/information? Or will facebook forever have it because I signed rights away when I joined? — Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) March 19, 2018

So what are the alternatives to Facebook and its Messenger app? What about Instagram’s tracking of you? Are there any alternatives that are more secure?

Perhaps a first step to extracting yourself from Facebook: Delete FB Messenger and stop using it. Tell friends you're not available on it. Switch to an encrypted alternative like @signalapp. And while @WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, at least the *messages* are e2e encrypted — Gavin Sheridan (@gavinsblog) March 19, 2018

As people have pointed out, at one point MySpace was an unstoppable machine. Its reach was minuscule compared to the number of users Facebook has today, but the backlash is gaining momentum, and if it affects Facebook’s bottom line, a change could come.