new Off-Facebook Activity tool is now available to all users. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a recent blog post that in addition to the option to delete Facebook’s recorded off-site activity, the social media site would be encouraging users to review their privacy settings. Here is a guide to help you take advantage of the updated options.
Before the addition of the new tool, the data Facebook gathered from your browsing activity was inaccessible. Facebook uses that data to advertise to you directly. Now users will have more privacy while browsing the web. The update to user security is another step in Facebook’s attempts to be more transparent with its userbase.
You can find your off-Facebook activity by navigating to the “Your Facebook Information” section of the settings menu. Inside of the menu labeled Off-Facebook activity, you’ll see a blurb with Facebook’s explanation of the subject. Here, you’ll see several options, including one that reads “Clear History.” Clearing your history will delete the log of any associated websites you’ve browsed on, but won’t stop Facebook from collecting more data. Removing these logs may also sign you out of connected sites, like Soundcloud. To keep Facebook from using future data, you’ll have to navigate back to the off-Facebook activity menu and select the option labeled “Manage Future Activity.” There, you will be able to toggle a setting that removes Facebook’s ability to collect data from your off-site browsing in the future.
Facebook’s New Privacy Tools
Facebook has allowed users to view the data they’ve collected on-site for the past few years. Now through the off-site menu you can view every business that has opted to share your activity with Facebook. The list of services can include applications you that you gave permissions to, news sites, or other websites you’ve visited. Clicking on any option will create a window labeled “Activity Details,” where you’ll be able to see any information the source gave Facebook and turn off the collection of future business.
In addition to the new privacy tools, you can now use Facebook to log into third-party apps and services. These options, along with the new suite of notifications, will help users stay aware of when their data is collected. In the past, people had to use third-party plug-ins to keep Facebook from collecting their data. The suite of new privacy tools contests the role that third-party add-ons like Facebook Container held. Now those who aren’t interested in downloading plugins have an easy to use tool that will let them control the data Facebook receives from outside sources.
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Source: Facebook
