How can you find and delete your old posts on social media?

Following the widespread use of social media platforms, millions of people have shared countless pieces of content on these platforms over the years. In this process, which began with Facebook being made available to everyone in 2006, social media networks such as X or Instagram have also gained important places in the digital history of their users, along with the competition between platforms. However, over time, old posts that accumulate on these platforms can become disturbing for users for various reasons. Sometimes a post that reminds of a past relationship, and sometimes a post that reflects past views can negatively affect a person’s current image.

In such cases, users may want to delete their old posts on social media. Deleting old posts is an important step for digital cleansing, presenting a more professional image before a new job interview, or simply cleansing yourself of past mistakes. Below is detailed information on how to find and delete old posts on popular social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.

How to find and delete old posts on Facebook?

Facebook is almost twenty years old and the vast majority of its users have been active on the platform for many years. Therefore, the number of old content shared on Facebook is quite high. Finding and deleting old posts is possible both on the web and via the mobile app.

Finding old posts on the web:

Open Your Profile: After logging into Facebook, you can access your own profile by clicking on your profile name in the upper left corner.
Use the Filters Button: In the area where the posts on your profile page are listed, you will find the “Filters” button just below the text area titled “What Do You Think?” Click on this button.
Filter by Year: In the drop-down menu, you will see a “Go To” drop-down menu where you can select the year you joined Facebook. From this menu, you can select a specific year to see your posts from that year.
Delete Posts: Once you find your old posts, you can use the “Delete Post” option by clicking on the three-dot icon in the top right corner of each post.

Finding old posts via mobile app:

Go to Your Profile: In the mobile application, you can access your profile by tapping on your profile picture in the lower right corner.
Click on the Filters Link: When you scroll down on your profile page, you will see a “Filters” link to the right of your posts. Click on this link.
Filter by Date: Since there is no direct sorting by year in the mobile application, you can search between specific dates using the calendar.
Delete Posts: Once you find posts for the dates you specified, you can use the “Delete Post” option by tapping the three-dot icon next to each post.

How to find and delete old tweets on X (Twitter)?

Twitter has stood out over the years as a platform where users can share their thoughts on a variety of topics. However, posts made on this platform can become outdated over time, or some comments made in the past may be viewed in a different light today. Here are the methods you can use to find and delete your old posts on X (Twitter).

Finding old posts on the web:

Use Search Engine: The most effective method on the web version of X is to use the platform’s own search engine. In the search bar (from:kullanıcıadı) until:yyyy-aa-gg since:yyyy-aa-gg Write an expression as follows.
Set Date Ranges: kullanıcıadı your own X username in the section, yyyy-aa-gg In the sections, enter the date ranges where you want to find your posts.
Switch to Newest Tab: Once you get the search results, click on the “Latest” tab to have the most recent tweets at the top.
Delete Posts: You can use the “Delete” option by clicking on the three-dot icon in the upper right corner of the old posts you find.

Finding old posts via mobile app:

Tap on the Search Icon: In the mobile application, you can access the search section by tapping the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen.
Enter Search Terms: Just like the web version, you can search for your old posts using the same search terms.
Delete Posts: Once you’ve scrolled through the results, you can delete the tweet by tapping the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the tweet you want to delete.

How to find and delete old posts on Instagram?

Instagram is a visual platform, allowing users to share many photos and videos over the years. However, some older posts may no longer be visible to users. The most effective way to find and delete your old posts on Instagram is to use the mobile app.

Finding old posts via mobile app

Enter Your Profile: Access your profile page by tapping on your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the application.
Open the Three Lines Menu: Open the menu by tapping the three horizontal lines icon in the top right corner of your profile page.
Enter My Activities: In the menu that opens, select the option “Your Transactions”. In this section, you can see a list of all the transactions you have made in the past.
Sort Posts: Go to the “Posts” section and change “Newest to Oldest” to “Oldest to Newest”. This way, you can easily find your first Instagram posts.
Delete or Archive Posts: Tap on the three-dot icon on the posts you find. You can choose either “Delete” or “Archive” from the menu that opens. Posts you archive will only be visible to you, but will not appear on your profile.

Why might you want to delete your old posts?

Deleting old social media posts is especially important for job seekers or those who want to clean up their digital history. Given the permanent nature of the internet, even if a piece of content is deleted, traces of it may remain in the internet archives. However, the regulations made on the platforms allow users to check their old content more easily.

These processes can be done with simple steps, especially on widely used social media platforms such as Facebook, X and Instagram. If past posts do not match the current professional image, deleting these posts will contribute to the creation of a more secure and professional digital profile.

Another point that users should pay attention to in this process is that platforms can make changes to their interfaces from time to time and some features can be found in different places. For this reason, it is important to check social media accounts regularly and perform the necessary cleaning processes.

Social media can have a huge impact on personal life as well as professional career. Therefore, managing one’s digital footprint has become an indispensable necessity for conscious users. Especially posts made years ago can contradict today’s values and norms, which can lead to negative consequences.

Deleting old posts is important not only for potential employers or business partners, but also for individuals to reflect on their own personal development. This allows the person to learn from the past, move forward and continuously improve themselves.

In summary, finding and deleting old posts on social media platforms should be considered both as part of digital cleansing and as a precaution to prevent possible problems that may be encountered in the future. In this way, users can both minimize their past mistakes and create a more secure digital presence.