When you delete your account, you choose what happens to your community contributions. We give you two options at the deletion screen.
Option 1: Delete content too (default)
Everything you wrote — forum posts, comments, chat messages, DMs — is permanently deleted along with your account.
This means:
- Your posts disappear from the forum
- Comments you made on others' posts disappear (the comment thread shows a "[deleted]" placeholder if needed for context)
- Other users' replies to your now-deleted posts may become orphaned (we keep the replies but the parent shows as "[deleted by author]")
- DMs you sent: deleted from your side; the recipient still has their copy of the conversation history
This is the default because it's what most people want. If you're leaving, you're probably leaving cleanly.
Option 2: Anonymize and keep public posts
Your public forum posts and comments stay in place but are reattributed to a generic "deleted user" placeholder. Your username, avatar, MBTI flair, and any personal details are stripped.
This means:
- Your posts continue to appear in the forum but with no identity attached
- Replies and threading remain intact (so other users' conversations don't get fragmented)
- DMs and chat messages: still deleted (those are 1:1, not "public good")
Use this option if you've written something genuinely useful that you'd want others to be able to keep finding — e.g., a detailed reply to a question that has helped people. Most users don't pick this option, and that's fine.
What about the 30-day grace period?
When you click "Delete my account," we don't delete immediately. You get a 30-day grace period during which:
- You can sign back in to cancel the deletion (everything reverts, no data loss)
- Your account is hidden from public view (forum posts go to "[deletion pending]")
- We send you a reminder email at day 7 and day 28
After 30 days, the deletion is final and the choice you made above takes effect.
If you want to skip the grace period, you can — there's a "Delete immediately" button on the same screen, but we hide it behind a confirm modal because it's irreversible.
What about chat rooms I created or moderated?
- Rooms you created are transferred to another active member if anyone is left, otherwise archived
- Moderation roles transfer to the next-most-trusted member based on community standing
What about partnerships I'm in?
Active partnerships end when your account is deleted. Your partner is notified by in-app message at deletion time so they're not surprised when their dashboard shows "partner deleted account."
Mentorships I'm running?
Same — mentees are notified and re-routed to the matching queue.
What can't I delete?
A few things by design:
- Anonymized aggregate analytics. If you opted into analytics, we may have stored aggregate counters (e.g., "users who completed Big Five in May 2026") that don't identify you and aren't deleted. Individual events ARE deleted.
- Server-side audit logs of moderation actions. If a mod ever took action on your account, that record is retained for our own legal protection. It doesn't identify you to other users.
- Backups for up to 30 days post-final-deletion. Daily backups roll out within 30 days.
Related
- How do I export my data?
- What we collect, how it's stored
Last reviewed: 2026-05-04