Facebook message content: Forever. Sad to compare this to Telecoms.

justhw · on Sept 28, 2011

I thought it gets permanently deleted from their database when you delete your account..no?

Edit: why the downvote? it's just a question. Chilax

uxp · on Sept 28, 2011

There are two kinds of deletions. The SQL DELETE command, and the boolean `deleted` field. Facebook is reported to use the latter.

justhw · on Sept 28, 2011

I don't know what to say. But I believe they are up to something much bigger than just using the data for ads.

FaceKicker · on Sept 28, 2011

A guy who said he worked at Facebook posted a comment on HN a couple days ago claiming that data is actually deleted from disk when you delete your account (after the ~14 day waiting period for account deletion), and I think it seemed like he was implying that this may have been the ONLY time data is actually deleted rather than simply being marked deleted. Maybe someone has a link to the actual comment/context...

Vandy_Travis · on Sept 29, 2011

I personally know this to be false. Over 2 years ago, I deleted my facebook account. Approximately 6 months later, I accidentally got auto logged in by LastPass when I clicked a link and ended up on the FB login page. It simply welcomed me back with all my data intact.

I'm quite sure that I went through the deletion process, then waited far more than the "14 day" requirement.