How to clear your old social media posts

Your old social media posts probably date back ten years ago or more, when you were still a teen or child. They likely contain silly comments that seemed innocent back then. 

Nowadays, everyone has an online “face” seen through social media. Maintaining a presentable one ensures that you won’t turn off potential job opportunities.

READ: How to protect your social media privacy

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Having a clean online record is also important for setting a good example for your upcoming kids. Read further to learn how to clear your past Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts.

How to delete old Facebook posts

Facebook launched on February 4, 2004, so it’s already 20 years old. Also, that means most peoples’ old social media posts are likely in Mark Zuckerberg’s servers. 

The Verge says the easiest way to clear your old FB posts is to load them on a computer’s web browser:

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1. Start by logging into your account.
2. Click your name to see your profile. 
3. Next, head below the “What’s on your mind?” option and then click on the Filters button.
4. Use the Go to drop-down menu to find the year you joined Facebook. 
5. Then, click Done to see posts from that year.

If you prefer the mobile app, follow these steps:

1. Open your Facebook profile in the mobile app.
2. Then, scroll down to tap the Filters link to the right. 
3. Tap your desired year through the calendar. Unlike the web version, you can’t jump to specific years on the app.

READ: How to delete your Facebook account

If you can’t remember when you joined Facebook, find out using these instructions on your computer’s web browser: 

1. Open Facebook and click your profile picture.
2. Then, select Settings & Privacy and click Settings.
3. Look for the Account Center on the right side of your page. 
4. Open it and then go to Your Information and Permissions.
5. Next, click Access Your Information and then choose Personal Information.
6. Your account creation date will be the first detail under Profile Information.

You may also determine your account creation date on mobile: 

1. Select your profile pic in the upper-right corner.
2. Go to Settings & Privacy and click Settings.
3. Then, open Account Center, Your Information and Permissions, Access your Information, and then Personal Information.
4. Your account creation date will be the first detail under Profile Information.

Delete old social media posts by clicking their three-dot icons and then selecting Delete Post.

How to delete old Twitter/X posts

Elon Musk may have renamed the birdie app, but most people still recognize it as Twitter. Nevertheless, ensure your profile ages better than X by deleting its old social media posts:

1. Open X on your PC or Mac.
2. Then, type (from:username) until:yyyy-mm-dd since:yyyy-mm-dd in the search box at the top of the page. 
3. Change the “username” to your X/Twitter handle, adjust the dates, and then hit Enter.
4. Afterward, click the Latest tab at the top to sort the posts chronologically.
5. Delete an X post or tweet by clicking the three-dot icon and then hitting Delete.

READ: How to delete your Reddit account

If you don’t remember your account creation date, open your profile. The date you joined should be under your description. Also, the same steps work on the mobile version.

How to delete old Instagram posts

Instagram made its public debut in 2010, so you may have accumulated numerous junk photos since its inception. Delete old social media posts using the Instagram app with these steps: 

1. Tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
2. Next, tap on the three horizontal lines at the upper right. 
3. Select Your Activity and then hit Posts.
4. Afterwards, tap Newest to Oldest and change it to Oldest to Newest. Alternatively, select All Dates to show IG posts within a specific date range. 
5. Select a post you want to remove, tap its three-dot icon, and then choose Delete.

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