DeleteMe acquires social media security tool Block Party

DeleteMe, an online personal data removal service, has acquired Block Party, a social media security tool. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition aims to combine DeleteMe’s core services—which remove personal information from data brokers (companies that collect and sell personal information) and people search sites (websites that aggregate personal information)—with Block Party’s social media safety tools.

Tracy Chou founded Block Party in 2018, drawing from her own experiences to build a tool that helps users protect themselves from targeted harassment. The startup subsequently raised a $4.8 million seed round in 2022 to expand its capabilities. Originally built to protect users on Twitter, the company was forced to pivot its strategy after Elon Musk acquired the platform. Under Musk’s ownership, Twitter began charging high fees for access to its API, making it too expensive for the startup to operate its original model. Consequently, Block Party shifted from a single-platform application to a browser plug-in that integrates with more than a dozen platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Venmo, Facebook, and X, to clean up users’ social media presence.

Chou announced the acquisition on Wednesday. She explained that her motivation for building the tool was a response to intrusions on my life and physical safety following her public activism and advocacy work. She noted that while she was previously more open about her life online, that openness has come at a real cost for many people. According to Chou, users should not have to choose between having an online voice and remaining safe. She stated that the acquisition addresses a fragmented market where both enterprise and consumer clients previously had to use multiple providers to assemble separate security solutions. She noted, “This acquisition brings both our products under the same roof, and gives everyone who’s been asking for it somewhere to go.”

For current Block Party users, nothing will change for now. The company plans to share more information with its customers as the tool becomes more integrated into DeleteMe’s broader platform.

Why it matters

The acquisition allows DeleteMe to combine its personal data removal services with Block Party’s social media safety tools, providing a unified solution for enterprise and consumer customers.