The three popular social networking sites each offer ways to tune out or turn off accounts. Facebook and Twitter users can opt to take a break or deactivate. Google+ users can hide, downgrade or delete accounts.
Tired of being friended and poked on Facebook? Just not that into your followers on Twitter? Google+ making you feel less than totally happy? Here's how to unplug from three popular social networking sites.It's the most popular social networking site on the Web with more than 750 million users. There are three ways to tune out or turn off Facebook.
•Take a break
If there's a chance you might make up with Facebook, this is a good temporary option. Turn off email notifications, remove the Facebook app from your phone, take the website out of your bookmarks and generally cleanse your online existence of all unwanted reminders of Facebook.
How to do it: Go to "account settings" under the account menu. Select the "notifications" tab and remove the check next to the alerts you don't want to receive. The downside: Your friends may still tag you in photos, write on your wall or send you messages and, when you don't respond, may think you lack basic social skills.
•Deactivate
If you are not sure you want to quit Facebook forever, you can deactivate your account. You will disappear on Facebook immediately. People will not be able to search for you or view any of your information. But Facebook will save all of your wall posts, photos, messages and other personal information in case you have a change of heart.
How to do it: Go to "account settings" and select the "security" tab. The last option at the bottom of the page is "deactivate your account." Click on the link. Be forewarned: Like a jilted lover practiced in the art of emotional blackmail, Facebook will try to talk you out of leaving by showing you pictures of close friends who will miss you. To reactivate your account: Log in with your email address and password.
•Delete
If you want to scrub every last detail of your existence from Facebook, you can permanently delete your account.
How to do it: Unlike deactivating, deleting is not an option under account settings. Instead, click on "Help Center" from the account menu. Type "delete" into the search box. Select the option: "How do I permanently delete my account?" Scroll down to "submit your request here." Or you can type in this link: http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=delete_account.
Click on the link and you will get a message asking you to verify that you want to delete your account. Click the "submit" button. Facebook will ask for your password and will perform a security check. Facebook will not delete your account for 14 days. During that time, it will email you to verify that you are the one deleting the account, not an impersonator trying to wreak havoc on your social life.
After 14 days, all of your information will be permanently removed from Facebook. Some of your
