How to Find and Delete Old Social Media Posts

With the widespread use of social media platforms, millions of people have shared countless pieces of content over the years. Since Facebook opened to the public in 2006, platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram have also become significant parts of users’ digital history. However, old social media posts accumulated over time on these platforms may become bothersome for users for various reasons. A post reminding of a past relationship or one reflecting outdated views may negatively affect a person’s current image.

In such cases, users may wish to delete their old social media posts. Deleting old posts is an important step in digital cleanup, presenting a more professional image before a job interview, or simply moving on from past mistakes. Below are detailed instructions 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 has a history spanning nearly twenty years, and the majority of its users have been active on the platform for many years. Therefore, the number of old social media posts shared on Facebook is quite large. You can find and delete old posts both on the web and through the mobile app.

Finding Old Posts on the Web:

• Open Your Profile: After logging into Facebook, click on your profile name in the top left corner to access your profile.
• Use the Filters Button: On your profile page, in the area where posts are listed, you’ll find a “Filters” button just below the “What’s on your mind?” text box. Click this button.
• Filter by Year: In the menu that opens, you’ll see a “Go to” dropdown menu where you can select the year you joined Facebook. From this menu, you can choose a specific year to view posts from that time.
• Delete Posts: After finding your old posts, you can click the three-dot icon in the top right corner of each post and select “Delete Post.”

Finding Old Posts on the Mobile App:

• Go to Your Profile: In the mobile app, tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner to access your profile.
• Click on the Filters Link: Scroll down on your profile page, and you’ll see a “Filters” link to the right of your posts. Tap this link.
• Filter by Date: Since the mobile app doesn’t have a direct yearly sort, you can use the calendar to search between specific dates.
• Delete Posts: After finding the posts from the selected dates, tap the three-dot icon next to each post and select “Delete Post.”

How to Find and Delete Old Tweets on X

Over the years, Twitter has been a platform where users have shared many different thoughts. However, posts on this platform can lose relevance over time, or some comments made in the past may be viewed differently today. Here’s how to find and delete your old posts on X (formerly Twitter).

Finding Old Posts on the Web:

• Use the Search Engine: On X’s web version, the most effective method is to use the platform’s own search engine. Enter a query in the search bar like (from) untilsince.
• Specify Date Ranges: Replace “username” with your X username and the “yyyy-mm-dd” sections with the date ranges you want to search within.
• Switch to Latest: After getting the search results, click on the “Latest” tab to see the most recent tweets at the top.
• Delete Posts: Click the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the old posts you found and select “Delete.”

Finding Old Posts on the Mobile App:

• Tap the Search Icon: In the mobile app, tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen to access the search section.
• Enter Search Terms: Use the same search terms as in the web version to find your old posts.
• Delete Posts: After browsing the results, tap 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, being a visually-focused platform, has allowed users to share many photos and videos over the years. However, some old posts may no longer be desired to be visible. The most effective way to find and delete old posts on Instagram is through the mobile app.

Finding Old Posts on the Mobile App:

• Go to Your Profile: Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the app to go to your profile page.
• Open the Three-Line Menu: Tap the three horizontal lines icon in the top right corner of your profile page to open the menu.
• Go to Your Activity: In the menu that opens, select “Your Activity.” Here, you can view all your past actions in a list.
• Sort Posts: Enter the “Posts” section and change the sort option from “Newest to Oldest” to “Oldest to Newest” to easily find your first Instagram posts.
• Delete or Archive Posts: Tap on the posts you find, click the three-dot icon, and choose either “Delete” or “Archive.” Archived posts are only visible to you and do not appear on your profile.