How to Download Data

Download Data

 

Act before 10 December to download your child's data and save important photos, messages or posts. Once an account is deleted, information may be lost forever. 

Encourage your child to:

1

Check their email or in-app messages from each platform. Many are contacting users directly with instructions about account changes.

2

Download their data as soon as possible. Preparing and exporting data can take several hours or even days.

3

Store the downloaded files safely, such as on a computer, external hard drive, or secure cloud storage.

 

How to Download Data from Major Platforms

Facebook

  1. Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings → Your Facebook Information → Download Your Information.
  2. Choose what to include (posts, photos, messages, etc.) and select a date range.
  3. Pick a format (HTML for easy viewing, JSON for data portability).
  4. Click Create File and wait for Facebook’s download notification.

Instagram

  1. Go to your Profile → Settings → Privacy & Security → Download Data.
  2. Enter your email and password. Instagram will email a link to your data.
  3. The file may take several hours or days to arrive, depending on how much content you have.

Threads

  1. Open the Threads app → Profile → Settings → Account → Download or Transfer Information.
  2. Select the account and data type.
  3. Submit the request — you’ll receive an email when the download link is ready.

TikTok

  1. Go to Profile → Settings and Privacy → Personalisation & Data → Download Your Data.
  2. Choose JSON or CSV format.
  3. TikTok will process the file (up to 7 days) and notify you when it is ready.

Reddit

  1. Visit reddit.com/settings/data-request.
  2. Log in to the Reddit account you’d like to request data from.
  3. Click Submit and follow the prompts.
  4. Reddit will notify you when your data is available for download.

Snapchat

  1. Visit the Snapchat My Data page (via the Snapchat website).
  2. Log in, then select Submit Request.
  3. Snapchat will email you a link with your saved snaps, chats and account data.

X (formerly Twitter)

  1. Go to Settings & Privacy → Your Account → Download an archive of your data.
  2. Verify your identity using your password and phone or email.
  3. X will prepare an archive and send you a download notification.

YouTube

  1. Visit Google Takeout at takeout.google.com.
  2. Select YouTube and YouTube Music data.
  3. Choose your file type and size, then click Next Step and Create Export.
  4. Google will email you a link once the file is ready.

Important reminders

  • Start early. Downloading and exporting data can take time, and many Australian families may be doing this at once.
  • Back up safely. Save downloaded files to a trusted location that is password protected.
  • Review old content. This is a good opportunity to delete posts, images or messages that you no longer want online.
  • Check privacy settings. Even after exporting data, some platforms may retain limited information for legal or advertising reasons.

It’s important to talk with your child about what these changes mean, what data matters to them, and how to protect their privacy in the future. This is not only about saving memories. It’s about helping young people take greater control of their digital footprint.