Here’s why it might be difficult for you to delete Facebook (even if you want to)

Facebook users have reacted with horror to this week’s Cambridge Analytica scandal – where it’s alleged data sucked up by a quiz may have swung the American election.

In the wake of the scandal, many users have vowed to stop using Facebook, as the scandal has shone light on how much data it stores.

But as ‘#DeleteFacebook’ has trended around the world, it’s become clear that doing so isn’t quite as simple as you’d imagine, thanks to apps linked to people’s accounts.

Many apps offer simple logins using Facebook data, such as (for instance), Tinder, Spotify, Buzzfeed, Instagram and Netflix via ‘Log In With Facebook’.

If you delete your Facebook account, you may lose your account and any data held in such apps – although how this works varies between companies.

On Tinder (and many other dating apps) you will have to create a new profile, using either a phone number or Facebook account.

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On Spotify, if you’ve used Facebook to log in, you’ll have to create a new account, but Spotify will migrate your playlists and saved albums to the account if you ask.

In other cases, you’ll be able to go into the app, and add an email address manually, so that you log in using that instead.

Spotify has information on how to migrate music here – and general instructions on pairing/unpairing accounts from Facebook.

Many people have been shocked by how many apps are linked to their Facebook account – and are thus able to use their data.

You can control how apps use your data on Facebook.

Go to the go to the top-right menu icon (in the desktop version of Facebook), then click Settings, then click ‘Apps’.

You’ll see a list of apps which you’ve authorised (for instance, Facebook quizzes, or phone apps you’ve logged into with Facebook details).

You can remove apps – although at present, you have to do this manually for each app, as there’s no ‘bulk delete’ function

Mark Zuckerberg was aware years ago that people were alarmed about apps having access to this data.

In 2014, he said, ‘Over the years, one of the things we’ve heard over and over again is that people want more control over how they share their information, especially with apps.

‘And they want more say and control over how apps use their data. We take this really seriously.’