Account Deletion & Data Erasure UX Audit (GDPR/CCPA)

Welcome to this survey about account deletion and data erasure experiences. We are conducting research to understand how people experience the process of deleting accounts and requesting data erasure from online services. This survey takes approximately 12 minutes. Your participation is entirely voluntary and you may stop at any time. There are no right or wrong answers—we are interested in your honest opinions and experiences. All responses are confidential and will be reported only in aggregate. By continuing, you agree to participate in this research.

When was your most recent attempt to delete or deactivate an online account?

• Within the last 7 days
• Within the last 30 days
• Within the last 3 months
• Within the last 6 months
• More than 6 months ago
• I have never attempted this

In your most recent attempt, how easy was it to find where to start deleting or deactivating your account?

How clear were the steps required to complete the deletion or erasure?

Which options were available during the process? Select all that apply.

• Permanent account deletion
• Temporary deactivation
• Download a copy of my data
• Selectively delete certain data types
• Manage third-party connections
• Request data erasure under privacy laws
• None of these
• Not sure

Which obstacles did you encounter, if any? Select all that apply.

• Hard to find the deletion option
• Confusing or legalistic wording
• Too many steps or confirmations
• Had to contact support
• Identity verification hurdles
• Long waiting period before deletion
• Persuasive prompts to keep the account (e.g., offers or repeated nudges)
• Other
• I encountered no obstacles

How much do you trust the service to fully erase your personal data as stated?

What is your age group?

• 18–24
• 25–34
• 35–44
• 45–54
• 55–64
• 65 or older
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for completing this survey. Your feedback will directly inform improvements to account deletion and data erasure processes. Your responses are confidential and will be reported only in aggregate.

In the last 12 months, which types of services have you tried to delete or deactivate an account for? Select all that apply.

• Social media or networking
• Retail or e-commerce
• Banking or fintech
• Productivity or cloud storage
• Streaming or media
• Gaming
• Utilities or telecom
• Health or fitness
• Travel or hospitality
• Other

Where did you first look for or start the deletion or erasure process?

• Account settings
• Privacy or security settings
• Help center or FAQ
• Search engine result
• Contacted support directly
• Mobile app store settings (e.g., subscriptions)
• Other

How clear was the explanation of what would happen to your data after deletion?

Overall, how complete did the deletion or erasure options feel compared with your expectations?

How much effort did the overall deletion or erasure process require?

If anything felt misleading, confusing, or incomplete in the deletion or erasure process, please describe it—including any specific wording, steps, or design elements that stood out.

What is your gender?

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Prefer to self-describe
• Prefer not to say

How comfortable are you managing account settings and privacy controls?

How clear was the information about how long the deletion process would take?

Were you offered a grace period to reverse the deletion after submitting your request?

• Yes—24 to 48 hours
• Yes—up to 30 days
• Yes—more than 30 days
• No
• Not sure

Approximately how long did it take to submit your deletion or erasure request?

• Less than 2 minutes
• 2–5 minutes
• 6–10 minutes
• 11–20 minutes
• 21–30 minutes
• More than 30 minutes
• I did not complete the process
• Not sure

Based on your survey responses, we'd like to explore your account deletion or data erasure experience in a bit more depth.

In which region do you currently live?

• Africa
• Asia
• Europe
• North America
• Oceania
• South America
• Prefer not to say

How clear was the explanation of the consequences of deletion (e.g., loss of data, subscriptions, or access)?

What confirmation did you receive after submitting your deletion or erasure request?

• Immediate on-screen confirmation
• Email confirmation
• In-app notification later
• No confirmation at all
• Not sure

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• High school or less
• Some college or associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate
• Vocational or technical certification
• Prefer not to say

What is your current employment status?

• Full-time employed
• Part-time employed
• Self-employed
• Student
• Homemaker
• Unemployed—looking for work
• Unemployed—not looking for work
• Retired
• Prefer not to say