Meta Confirms Facebook, Instagram Users Can Avoid User-Tracking—but There’s a Catch

Meta is now allowing Facebook and Instagram to opt out of targeted ads, but it will be exclusively available for users living in Europe.

The parent firm is now throwing options for them to avoid user-tracking on the platforms. The information came from an unknown source who is familiar with the company's planning.

Meta Will Give Users Option to Opt Out of Facebook Tracking

According to a report by BGR, Meta is finally letting Facebook and Instagram users avoid getting tracked on social media. Unfortunately, only Europeans can opt out of tracking.

Users can choose not to get involved in this action only if they submit an online form containing why they oppose Meta's in-app activity tracking. Of course, the company will evaluate each of its requests before this implementation takes place, a source reveals via The Wall Street Journal.

Why Meta is Only Implementing this in Europe

BGR writes in the same report that the EU has been fighting for the rights of its citizens against Meta's unfair tracking.

The ruling forced the company to change its policy and allow users to have the option to avoid social media tracking or else it will face a hefty fine.

Back in January 2023, the Data Protection Commission of Ireland slapped Meta with a $423 million fine after requiring Facebook and Instagram users to deal with an agreement involving "behavioral ads."

As we know, the target ads on Facebook appear to be tracking our activities online every time we search for something on the platform.

This means that the social media giant knows what videos we view on FB and Instagram, as well as our other activities on the platforms including commenting on a post.

It should be noted that this is the first time Meta allowed an opt-out feature for app tracking across its apps.

Selective Opt-Out Option For Facebook Tracking is Bad

Although the latest decision from Meta signals that Europeans now have the freedom to remove/retain app tracking when using Facebook and Instagram, it does not mean that users from other regions would feel the same thing, too.

According to 9to5Mac, it's all part of Meta's desperate measure to comply with the EU. The reason why the company sticks to this plan is to retain higher revenues from personalized ads.

By exclusively rolling out this option within European countries, Meta is losing a grasp of the reality that other users from America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa don't need it because there's no contention about the issue.

Given that it's indeed happening at the moment, it's only suggesting that Meta has the low privacy standards that it offers in the United States and other countries outside Europe.

If the trend continues to receive negative feedback from many users, maybe Meta might totally disable app-tracking across Facebook and Instagram in the future.