How to Delete Snapchat Account

Snapchat took the social media world by storm and many loves the way they can take funny selfies or use the dog filters.

However, also many are against the snap map feature, or they found out about the SnapLion app, which is available to staff and can access user data. From your location data to snaps or personal contact information.

This app has been abused, and it is a significant intrusion on user privacy. It can be straightforward to deactivate your Snapchat account or delete it altogether.

However, before doing so. The site informs users that is their account is deactivated for 30 days; all their account, account information, snaps, chats, story, device data, and location data will be deleted.

If you are aware of this, you can learn how to delete Snapchat account following the steps below.

Snapchat Privacy Concerns

By design, Snapchat was supposed to take your chats, story, device data, and anything else you make available, and keep it safe.

One feature in the app was when you receive a chat; it vanishes after a specified period.

That was the theory, and most of the company’s expansion was because they were touting privacy far above what other social platforms were offering at the time.

It was possible to take screenshots from phones, and third-party apps came to market, which could save posts and photos from Snapchat.

On top of this, the app was possibly broadcasting user location without them knowing, and address books were compromised as well.

At the height of the problems, there were over 4 million Snapchat usernames and phone numbers, which fell into the hands of the wrong people.

The company couldn’t deliver on its promise, and they made a settlement with the FTC. Although this did not result in a fine, they are under supervision to make sure they comply with privacy for the next 20 years.

Snapchat Privacy Settings

If you are taking a break, and intend to reactivate your account. It is better to head to the privacy settings and make sure everything is in order.

To get into these, tap on your profile picture toward the top left, and then tap on the gear icon, which is in the top right.

Scroll down the page, and you will come to “Additional settings.”

Tap on “Manage,” and you will see various settings you can change.

• Contact Me
• View my Story
• See My Location
• See Me in Quick Add

While here, you can scroll to “Ad preferences.” Snapchat targets ads based on your usage. To limit this, and the ads from third parties make sure “Audience based” is unchecked.

Once you do this, uncheck “Activity-based,” and this will disable any ads based on your activity.

How Can I Permanently Delete My Snapchat Account?

Unlike many social media platforms, all you have to do to delete your account is not login to the app for a period of 30-days after you deactivate your account.

It may appear quick and easy, and they do say that all data in the database will be deleted. Yet not all information will be permanently deleted. They do retain some data for legal, security, and business needs.

Before looking at the instructions on how to delete a Snapchat account, here is a glance at their privacy policy:

• Information you offer All the information you enter in the app as you use it.
• Any information obtained when using Snapchat: Device information such as location, logs, etc.
• Information from third parties: Information from advertisers, other user contact lists, and information from linked third-party apps.

In reality, this means Snapchat can use any information it gathers and stores in its user database.

Deleting Snapchat on a Computer

On desktops, deleting a Snapchat account is easy from the accounts page.

1. Head to https://accounts.snapchat.com. Log in then click on “Delete my Account.”
2. Enter your “username and password” for the account; you wish to delete.
3. Click on continue. Snapchat will now deactivate your account for 30 days. As soon as this time is up, it will permanently delete it.
4. Once your Snapchat is deactivated, you will have 30 days grace period if you wish to reactivate your account. To do this, all you need to do is log in to the Snapchat app.
   Enter your username and password during this period. Note: It can often take up to 24-hours before your account reactivates.

How to Delete Snapchat Account on Mobile Devices

1. Open your Snapchat app on your device.
2. Log in as usual.
3. Tap your avatar in the top-left corner.
4. Tap on the gear icon in the top-right corner.
5. Select “Help Center” under the Support section.
6. Navigate to “My Account and Security” – “Account Information” and “Delete my Account.”
7. Tap on the link for the “Accounts Portal” in the text.

To delete Snapchat account permanently, all you need to do is follow the same steps as above from step 2.

It is worth noting, during this period of deactivation, any friends you have will not be able to contact or interact with you on the platform.

In addition to this, if you decide you want to get back to see your friends, snaps, chats, story, and you will reactivate your account, you can’t use your email address, and it does require your username.

Once you reach the 30 days, everything such as settings, friends, snaps, chats, of yours will be gone forever.

Once you turn off all that you can to keep your privacy, and you either deactivate or delete your account altogether, there are still concerns for online privacy. Location tracking is one of the more prominent.

Any user, who carries their phone all the time, should consider the use of a VPN and mask their location.