One of the most ubiquitous features in Google search is its query suggestions. It allows users to select a predefined search terms without having to type the whole query. But to me, it offers more humor than help, as illustrated in a separate post. But joking aside, this feature reveals some of the most popular (if not peculiar) terms people are using recently. One of which is the revelation that people must have grown paranoid over Facebook's management of its privacy policy. And it shows through Google's suggestion feature. If you start a Google query with "How do I", you might find "How do I delete my facebook account".

For those unaware, this is the URL to go to should you decide to delete your account in Facebook: https://ssl.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=delete_account. Clicking the "Submit" button does not immediately delete your account, but promises the removal to take place within 14 days. Logging in before that period signals you canceling your removal request. The way Facebook handles its privacy policy must have prompted many people to consider disassociating themselves from the social media giant, thus the rise in popularity of "how do I" Facebook removal query. Most of us maybe don't pay much attention on the possible perils Facebook brings; Gizmodo lists down some of them.
 

As Google Trends data shows, the number of people using a related query "delete facebook account" has steadily increased. However, after looking at Bing and Yahoo!, both search engines offering the same search suggestion feature does not display such term at least in my few attempts. Could it be that Microsoft covers anything related to Facebook account removal due to its part ownership of Facebook? Or maybe the type of frustrated Facebook users who use the term are likely to use Google over its smaller competitors? While we see an increase in number of people who wish to find out how they can get out of Facebook, it may not necessarily translate to people really initiating that account removal exercise. And it's not likely a threat to the user base Facebook currently enjoys. But its lame handling of privacy and more people realizing this potential problem, who knows?