People often worry about what Facebook knows about them, so I downloaded my personal Facebook archive to see for myself.

There were some surprises — I now know all the people I’ve unfriended since 2006 — but overall, I realized just how much of my life I’ve lived on the social network.

Here’s all the stuff you can find out if you decide to download your Facebook archive:


To start, downloading your data from Facebook is easy.

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In the settings menu where you normally change your password, click the “download a copy” button.

in-the-settings-menu-where-you-normally-change-your-password-click-the-download-a-copy-button


When you opt to get an archive of what you shared, Facebook will send you an email. You may have to wait a while, depending how much information you have on Facebook.

when-you-opt-to-get-an-archive-of-what-you-shared-facebook-will-send-you-an-email-sometimes-you-may-have-to-wait-a-while-depending-on-how-much-information-you-have-on-facebook


For me, it took 10 minutes before my download was ready. An email came to my inbox with a link to download the information. It does expire though, so you need to download your data soon after.

for-me-it-took-10-minutes-before-my-download-was-ready-an-email-came-to-my-inbox-with-a-link-to-download-the-information-it-does-expire-though-so-you-need-to-download-your-data-soon-after


The data comes as a compressed .zip file. If you’re on an Apple computer, just double click it to unzip it. You’ll be left with a bunch of folders like these. Kinda scary-looking, right? Thankfully, Facebook designed them as mini HTML webpages, so it’s pretty easy to get around.

the-data-comes-as-a-compressed-zip-file-if-youre-on-an-apple-computer-just-double-click-it-to-unzip-it-youll-be-left-with-a-bunch-of-folders-like-these-kinda-scary-looking-right-thankfully-facebook-designed-them-as-mini-html-webpages-so-its


Start by opening up the file called “index.htm.” It will open what looks like a mini-profile page in your Internet browser. The index already reveals a lot of information about you, including your registration date, relationship status (plus your previous ones!), family, education, and employers. This is all information that you’ve told Facebook before.

start-by-opening-up-the-file-called-indexhtm-it-will-open-what-looks-like-a-mini-profile-page-in-your-internet-browser-the-index-already-gives-away-a-lot-of-information-about-you-including-your-registration-date-relationship-status-plus-you


Let’s start with a trip down memory lane. Facebook keeps track of your entire timeline history. Back when I joined Facebook in 2006, it still showed status updates like “Biz is ….” My first status update was apparently to tell people I was just “at home” followed by a smiley two hours later.

lets-start-with-a-trip-down-memory-lane-facebook-keeps-track-of-your-entire-timeline-history-back-when-i-joined-facebook-in-2006-it-still-showed-status-updates-like-biz-is--my-first-status-update-was-apparently-to-tell-people-i-was-just-at-


When you download your data, you get a copy of every photo and video you’ve uploaded to Facebook. If you open the photos webpage, you can see all the meta data Facebook stores with each one. It keeps track of when you took the photo, where you took the photo, and your IP address when you uploaded it.

when-you-download-your-data-you-get-a-copy-of-every-photo-and-video-youve-uploaded-to-facebook-if-you-open-the-photos-webpage-you-can-see-all-the-meta-data-facebook-stores-with-each-one-it-keeps-track-of-when-you-took-the-photo-where-you-to


Facebook even has my “Facial Recognition Data” on file. The three thresholds mean nothing to me, but apparently Facebook has 237 examples of what I look like on file.

facebook-even-has-my-facial-recognition-data-on-file-the-three-thresholds-mean-nothing-to-me-but-apparently-facebook-has-237-examples-of-what-i-look-like-on-file


I can already easily tell who all my friends are on Facebook, but the company also keeps track of the friends I’ve removed over the last 10 years. Unfortunately, I can’t tell who removed me from their friends list. The other odd designation? Facebook keeps track of what it calls your “friend peer group” — mine is classified (accurately) as “Starting Adult Life.”

i-can-already-easily-tell-who-all-my-friends-are-on-facebook-but-the-company-also-keeps-track-of-the-friends-ive-removed-over-the-last-10-years-unfortunately-i-cant-tell-who-removed-me-from-their-friends-list-the-other-odd-designation-faceb


And in case you need a look back at your social calendar, Facebook keeps a record of all the events you’ve attended. Not a bad idea if you need to look up an old address or date (or be reminded of your high school prom).

and-in-case-you-need-a-look-back-on-your-social-calendar-facebook-keeps-a-record-of-all-the-events-youve-attended-not-a-bad-idea-if-you-need-to-look-up-an-old-address-or-date-or-be-reminded-of-your-high-school-prom


It also has a copy of all of your Facebook messages — although it’s much easier to access those through your normal Facebook account than through the data download.

it-also-has-a-copy-of-all-of-your-facebook-messages--although-its-much-easier-to-access-those-through-your-normal-facebook-account-than-through-the-data-download


Under ads, Facebook tracks what it thinks you’re interested in and the ads you’ve clicked on. It only holds info about ads you’ve clicked on for a short time, so you won’t see your complete history. As for its ad topics, I have no idea how it came up with half of these interests (Monarchy of the United Kingdom?? Crust Geology??), nor does the data tell me.

under-ads-facebook-tracks-what-it-thinks-youre-interested-in-and-the-ads-youve-clicked-on-it-only-holds-ad-info-on-what-youve-clicked-on-for-a-short-time-so-its-not-your-total-history-as-for-its-ad-topics-i-have-no-idea-how-it-came-up-with-


Remember Pokes? Facebook even has a record of those. Downloading your data is a good way to be reminded of the friendships you’ve created (or removed) in your life along the way.

remember-pokes-facebook-even-has-a-record-of-those-too-downloading-your-data-is-a-good-way-to-be-reminded-of-the-friendships-youve-created-or-removed-in-your-life-along-the-way

This story originally appeared on Business Insider. Copyright 2016

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