I've been Zucked! HALP!

April 23, 2018 3:10 PM

2nd time in a few months I've been narced and had my acct deleted. this time they're demanding proof (last time i got away with a name change but no proof)... I do not use my real name. I am adamant about it. I won't argue that point. HOWEVER... I want my friends there to know i'm leaving and maybe get some files back/downloaded (just to be sure i have them). I dont' think they have any sort of 'backup your shit' like google does. But is there a way (without sending in my ID and setting up under my real name) short of having another friend attempt to contact all the other friends and notify them (further complicated by the fact they're not all the same friend networks)... Anyone ever deal with this BS? I don't care if I have to leave FB, I just want to say goodbye to those that matter to me from FB.
posted by symbioid to Computers & Internet (9 answers total)

Best answer: Facebook does not require you to use your real name, just something people call you by (ie, Bob instead of Robert). You can't, however, make up a name that no one calls you (ie, John instead of Sheila).

Facebook allows you to download all your data.
posted by saeculorum at 3:15 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks for the link to the data retrieval. They'll allow you to do that AFTER you've been Zucked.

I'm not going to argue the other points, as I noted.
posted by symbioid at 3:20 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Sorry I meant to ask that : DO they allow you to retrieve the data after they block you for the name issue? I guess I'll try it tonight.
posted by symbioid at 3:33 PM on April 23, 2018

I’d make a new profile and use it to send goodbye messages to people.
posted by hungrytiger at 9:28 PM on April 23, 2018

Do it through one or more friends on FB -- you send a message directly to those people, those people post the text on their accounts as a message from you for your friends.
posted by pracowity at 12:58 AM on April 24, 2018

Since they only require a photo of your ID, it's possible to Photoshop some with the name you'd like on your account. If the name you have now is too bizarre to be plausible, you might want to change it to a "realer" name (e.g change from Unicorn Qzx to Ursula Quince). Vice talks about some of this here.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 3:07 AM on April 24, 2018 [2 favorites]

Make a Fake ID and send a scan to them.

I see I was beaten to it.
posted by Kwadeng at 3:08 AM on April 24, 2018 [1 favorite]

The ID doesn't have to be that plausible. I know someone who did world's worst MS Paint job, I mean not even really trying, and sent it into FB just to be a jerk and try to waste their time in a minor way. They reactivated her account.

Sometimes I'm not sure who trolled who in that exchange, though.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:55 AM on April 24, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: UPDATE: I uh, kinda did an attempt to restore my acct with shooped ID, and my acct has been locked while they "review" - but it's been locked for months.

I wrote to the people for "Data Retention" pleading with them to at least get my data, even if they refuse to restore the old acct.

Just, ugh. ALWAYS MAKE GOOD BACKUPS LOCALLY - why did I stupidly depend on FB to hold my data and return it to me at the least. Dumb.
posted by symbioid at 5:52 PM on July 12, 2018