What to post before you delete
What should I post before deleting my social media?
Post a short note a few days before you go, saying you are leaving, when, and how to reach you instead. Give people a concrete contact method — an email address or phone number — otherwise the connection quietly disappears.
Post it a few days early, not on your way out. People need time to see it and save your details. Pin it to your profile if the platform allows.
Do not put your phone number in a public post. It gets scraped for spam and SIM-swap attempts within hours. Ask people to DM you for it, or share an email address instead — email is far safer to publish.
The short one
Deleting this account on [DATE]. Not a statement, just done with it. If we're actually friends, DM me and I'll send you my number before it goes.
The warm one
After [NUMBER] years, I'm closing this account on [DATE]. It's been genuinely good — I've met people here I'd never have met otherwise. But I want the hours back. I'm not disappearing. Email me at [EMAIL] and I'll always reply. If you'd rather have my number, DM me before [DATE].
The straightforward one
Heads up: this account comes down on [DATE]. Best way to reach me after that is [EMAIL]. If you're on Signal, DM me here and I'll send you my details.
The one for a professional account
I'm stepping away from this platform on [DATE] to focus on [WHAT]. Ongoing work lives at [WEBSITE]. For enquiries: [EMAIL]. Thanks to everyone who followed along here.
The dry one
Turns out I've spent [NUMBER] days a year here. Going to go find out what else is on. Deleting [DATE]. [EMAIL] if you need me.
Work out your own number with the time calculator.
Before you post it
- Set up the email address first and check it works. A typo here is how people lose touch permanently.
- Export your contacts — a public post reaches followers who happen to be scrolling that day, which is a small fraction of them. The data rescue checklist covers this.
- Message the people who really matter individually. A public post is not a goodbye to a close friend.
- Skip the manifesto. Long posts explaining why social media is bad tend to read as an argument, and people respond to the argument instead of saving your email.
Common questions
Should I announce that I am deleting my account?
If you want to keep the people, yes — otherwise those connections simply vanish. Post a few days ahead with a contact method. If you would rather leave quietly, message close friends directly instead.
Is it safe to put my phone number in a goodbye post?
No. Public numbers are scraped within hours for spam and SIM-swap attempts. Publish an email address and share your number by DM only.