Facebook’s All-Seeing Eye: How It Tracks You & How to Fight Back

Imagine downloading your Facebook history and being taken aback by its volume. One user discovered an alarming amount of personal data: 85 pages of search history, a staggering 410 pages of likes and comments, and 102 pages of contact information. This eye-opening example shows how much Facebook knows about its users – and it doesn’t even include location tracking, device details, and even more.

Facebook, the social media giant, has become an integral part of billions of lives. But this convenience comes with a hidden cost: our privacy. Facebook relentlessly tracks our behavior online and off, creating an intricate profile used to target us and potentially influence our actions. It’s time to take control. Here’s how they track you and what you can do about it:

1. Location Tracking

• Example: You post a photo from your favorite café. Even without explicitly tagging the place, Facebook uses location data from your phone to understand your whereabouts.
• Mitigation: Disable location services for Facebook on your phone or tablet, and generally use them sparingly for other apps.

2. Search History

• Example: You search for “best vacation deals” on Facebook. Ads for travel agencies and resorts start popping up everywhere you go online.
• Mitigation: Regularly clear your Facebook search history.

3. Likes and Comments

• Example: You casually ‘like’ a page about vegan cooking. Soon, your feed is full of ads for plant-based products.
• Mitigation: Be selective with your likes and comments. If you’re exploring a sensitive topic, do it without directly interacting with related Facebook content.

4. Contact Information

• Example: You upload your contact list to ‘find friends’. Facebook uses this to build a network of connections, even if those contacts aren’t on Facebook.
• Mitigation: Don’t sync contacts to Facebook. Manually manage your Facebook friend list instead.

5. Device Type Data

• Example: Facebook knows you’re using a new, high-end phone model. You might see more ads for luxury goods.
• Mitigation: Limiting this is tricky, but be mindful of permissions apps request and use privacy-focused web browsers to disrupt tracking.

6. App Tracking

• Example: You play a mobile game connected to your Facebook profile. Facebook can track your game progress and in-game purchases.
• Mitigation: Disable app tracking in your phone’s settings. Check the privacy settings of individual apps.

7. Targeted Advertising

• Example: After browsing for a new laptop, you see ads for that model or similar devices relentlessly following you across websites.
• Mitigation: Use ad-blocking extensions, clear your browser history and cookies regularly. This disrupts the building of your ad profile.

8. Web Browsing Habits

• Example: Facebook’s pixel is embedded on many websites. This tracks your visits, even if you don’t have a Facebook account.
• Mitigation: Use privacy-focused browsers with enhanced tracking protection, or utilize browser extensions specifically designed to block Facebook tracking.

9. ‘Off-Facebook Activity’

• Example: A partner store shares your purchase data with Facebook to target you with related products on the platform.
• Mitigation: Access your Facebook Settings > Your Facebook Information > Off-Facebook Activity. There, you can disable future tracking and clear your history.

10. Profile Privacy

• Example Your birthday, hometown, and relationship status are publicly visible. This information can be used by scammers or identity thieves.
• Mitigation: Review Privacy Shortcuts and make your profile visible only to friends or even more restricted.

11. Photo Exif Data

• Example: Upload a photo from your vacation without any tags, but Facebook can still access geolocation data stored within the image file.
• Mitigation: Remove exif data before uploading photos. There are free online tools and apps to do this.

12. Check-ins and Location Tagging

• Example: Every time you check in at a restaurant or tag a photo with a location, Facebook knows exactly where you were and when.
• Mitigation: Avoid check-ins entirely, and be very selective with location tagging; consider doing it after the fact.

13. Quizzes and Polls

• Example: Engaging with a harmless-looking “Which Disney Character Are You?” quiz provides Facebook with valuable insights into your personality and preferences.
• Mitigation: Stay away from Facebook quizzes and polls! If the temptation is strong, use a temporary, throwaway account.

14. Messenger Activity:

• Example: Your conversations in Facebook Messenger are scanned for keywords and topics. This can be used to target you with ads or suggest connections with similar interests.
• Mitigation: Use a privacy-focused messaging apps for sensitive conversations. Consider disappearing messages features offered by some apps.

15. Facial Recognition:

• Example: Facebook uses facial recognition technology to suggest photo tags and improve image search features. This can also be used to identify you in photos even if you haven’t been tagged.
• Mitigation: Go to your Facebook settings and turn off facial recognition.

16. Logins to Other Apps:

• Example: When you log in to other apps or websites using your Facebook account, Facebook receives information from those platforms.
• Mitigation: Avoid logging in with Facebook whenever possible. Create separate accounts for other services.

17. In-App Activity:

• Example: Many games and apps integrated with Facebook track your activity within those apps. This data can be fed back to Facebook to build your profile.
• Mitigation: Review the privacy settings of apps connected to your Facebook account. Consider disabling unnecessary permissions.

18. Facebook Groups:

• Example: Topics you engage with in Facebook groups can reveal your interests and beliefs.
• Mitigation: Be mindful of what you share in groups, especially public ones. Consider using pseudonyms for sensitive discussions.

19. Event Attendance:

• Example: RSVPing to events or marking yourself as “interested” allows Facebook to track your interests and target you with related ads or suggestions.
• Mitigation: Don’t click “interested” unless you’re truly considering attending. Utilize the privacy settings for events to limit who can see your attendance.

20. Cookies and Browser Tracking:

• Example: Facebook uses cookies and other tracking tools on external websites to monitor your browsing habits, even if you’re not logged into Facebook.
• Mitigation: Regularly clear your browser cookies and cache. Use privacy-focused browsers and extensions that block third-party tracking.

By understanding how Facebook tracks you and implementing these steps, you can reclaim some control over your privacy and limit the amount of data they collect. Remember, vigilance is key!

 

Taking Control: Wiperts.com Can Help

While these strategies help limit Facebook’s tracking, a lot of your data has likely already spread throughout the web. Wiperts.com understands the importance of online privacy. Our team specializes in removing personal information from data broker websites and people search platforms. This helps minimize your online footprint and protects you from potential scams or identity theft.

Visit Wiperts.com to learn more about our services and how we can help you regain control of your privacy.