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The number of people searching "how to delete Facebook" online doubled in March - with Londoners most likely to want rid of their accounts.

The social media platform's reputation has suffered greatly in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.

It is believed around 50 million users worldwide had their data accessed - with approximately one million victims based in the UK.

The new study, conducted by data firm Top10VPN found searches for "delete Facebook" had risen by 101 per cent in the UK compared to the previous month.

Simon Migliano, head of research at Top10VPN, said: “The Cambridge Analytica data breach has confirmed the long-held suspicions of many social media users that their personal data is being used for various means without their explicit consent.

“The backlash against what many would consider an egregious use of powers was immediate - with thousands of users in impacted countries swiftly looking to distance themselves from data-hungry sites like Facebook.

"The rocketing of search terms like ‘delete Facebook' is evidence of a digital uprising of sorts against what has become the accepted norm in the last decade.

Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook Congress Hearing - In pictures 15 show all Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook Congress Hearing - In pictures 1/15 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during a Senate hearing AFP/Getty Images 2/15 CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg (C) takes his seat following a break in testifying before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee joint hearing on 'Facebook, Social Media Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data' on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC EPA 3/15 Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee joint hearing about Facebook on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC AFP/Getty Images 4/15 An aide to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg closes a binder of notes left on the table as Zuckerberg takes a short break from testifying before a joint hearing of the Commerce and Judiciary Committees on Capitol Hill in Washington AP 5/15 Grilling: The 5'7 CEO testifies before US senators in Congress Getty Images 6/15 Senator John Kennedy looks on as Senator Lindsey Graham holds up the privacy agreement of Facebook as its CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies Reuters 7/15 Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before a combined Senate Judiciary and Commerce committee hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Getty Images 8/15 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks with Senator John Thune and Senator Chuck Grassley following a joint hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill AFP/Getty Images 9/15 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is surrounded by members of the media Reuters 10/15 Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves after he testified before a combined Senate Judiciary and Commerce committee hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Getty Images 11/15 Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives to testify Getty Images 12/15 A audience member wearing a blue and green pointy wig, aiming to look like a Russian troll as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before a joint hearing of the Commerce and Judiciary Committees on Capitol Hill in Washington AP 13/15 100 life-sized cutouts of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sit on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol Getty Images 14/15 Mark Zuckerberg faced questions over the Cambridge Analytica scandal EPA 15/15 Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before a combined Senate Judiciary and Commerce committee hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Getty Images 1/15 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during a Senate hearing AFP/Getty Images 2/15 CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg (C) takes his seat following a break in testifying before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee joint hearing on 'Facebook, Social Media Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data' on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC EPA 3/15 Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee joint hearing about Facebook on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC AFP/Getty Images 4/15 An aide to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg closes a binder of notes left on the table as Zuckerberg takes a short break from testifying before a joint hearing of the Commerce and Judiciary Committees on Capitol Hill in Washington AP 5/15 Grilling: The 5'7 CEO testifies before US senators in Congress Getty Images 6/15 Senator John Kennedy looks on as Senator Lindsey Graham holds up the privacy agreement of Facebook as its CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies Reuters 7/15 Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before a combined Senate Judiciary and Commerce committee hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Getty Images 8/15 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks with Senator John Thune and Senator Chuck Grassley following a joint hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill AFP/Getty Images 9/15 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is surrounded by members of the media Reuters 10/15 Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves after he testified before a combined Senate Judiciary and Commerce committee hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Getty Images 11/15 Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives to testify Getty Images 12/15 A audience member wearing a blue and green pointy wig, aiming to look like a Russian troll as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before a joint hearing of the Commerce and Judiciary Committees on Capitol Hill in Washington AP 13/15 100 life-sized cutouts of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sit on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol Getty Images 14/15 Mark Zuckerberg faced questions over the Cambridge Analytica scandal EPA 15/15 Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before a combined Senate Judiciary and Commerce committee hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Getty Images

“Certain UK cities were especially quick to distance themselves - the largest surges in search terms notably centred on cities often known for innovation, such as London."

Across the country, "delete Facebook" was looked up most widely in the capital, with searches skyrocketing 139 per cent from 16,027 to 38,370.

Brighton came in second place, climbing by 129 per cent, while Bristol rose by 111 per cent.

Rounding up the top five were Scottish capital Edinburgh, rising 98 per cent, and Sunderland, where figures rose 95 per cent.

Internationally, the UK came fourth behind Canada (175 per cent), the US (132 per cent) and New Zealand (103 per cent).

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told US senators his own personal data was shared in the data scandal which sent political shockwaves on either side of the Atlantic earlier this year.

He agreed to implement tighter regulations on the platform as a means of protecting user security in the future.