If South Korea's $15 million fine to Meta is not enough to convince you to leave Facebook or Instagram, this just might. Searches for deleting these platforms skyrocketed after Meta announced policy changes that critics say align with the incoming Trump administration. These include weakening hate speech policies, leaving users more vulnerable to discrimination.
But closing your social media accounts is not enough to get out of Meta's reach. The company reportedly tracks users across millions of websites and apps, collecting data even if you don't actively use its platforms.
To protect your privacy, you need to know how Meta collects such information and how to limit its access.
Meta's Business Model: Surveillance for Profit
Many may say that Meta is not a social media company; it's an ad machine built on surveillance. All its business models depend on amassing tons of data to enable the delivery of very targeted ads. The more information Meta collects about your online behavior, the more valuable its advertising platform is.
When Apple came up with its own privacy update that impaired app tracking on iPhones, Meta took a huge loss as it is reliant on and bespoke for data harvesting.
However, even with the help of Apple's privacy settings, Meta uses several strategies to track users.
How Meta Collects Your Data
Meta's tracking is not limited to Facebook and Instagram. It has tracking pixels that are embedded on millions of websites, tracking what users do online. These pixels can collect very sensitive information such as browsing history, financial information, and even health information.
A 2022 investigation found that one-third of the top US hospitals inadvertently shared patient data with Meta through these tracking tools. Businesses also share offline interactions, such as in-store purchases, with Meta, expanding its pool of data even further.
Even if you deactivate your Facebook or Instagram account, Meta will continue to gather your information through third-party means. In 2018, the company revealed that it monitored non-users through apps and websites using its ad services.
How to Stop Meta From Tracking Your Data
You may not be able to completely evade Meta's surveillance, but there are steps you can take to minimize its reach over your private data.
Change Your Facebook and Instagram Privacy Settings
By changing your account settings, you can restrict how Meta can use your data to show you advertisements.
- Go to Accounts Center within Facebook or Instagram settings.
- Click Ad Preferences, then Manage Info. Tap Activity Information from Ad Partners and click Review Setting.
- Tap "No, don't make my ads more relevant by using this information" and confirm.
To block Meta from sharing your data with advertisers on other apps, go to Ad Preferences, then tap Manage Info. From here, click Ads Shown Outside of Meta, then tap Not Allowed.
Disconnect Businesses from Sharing Your Offline Activity With Meta
If you have a business page, follow this step to disconnect your account with Meta.
- Head to Your Information and Permissions. Next, click Your Activity Off Meta Technologies, then Manage Future Activity.
- Click Disconnect Future Activity and confirm.
Install Privacy Tools to Block Meta's Trackers
Using privacy-focused tools can prevent Meta from monitoring your online activity.
Change Your Phone's Privacy Settings
Your smartphone collects data that Meta can access, so it's essential to adjust these settings.
- Turn off or disable your ad ID – This limits the ability of Meta to track you from app to app. Instructions differ for iPhone and Android users.
- Block location access by Meta by turning off access to Facebook and Instagram locations.
Stronger Privacy Laws Still Needed
While these steps help minimize tracking, true privacy protection requires stronger legislation. Companies like Meta should not have unchecked power over users' personal data. Advocating for stricter digital privacy laws can help ensure that personal data remains secure and private by default.
Until privacy laws improve, taking control of your settings is the best way to keep Meta from profiting off your data.
