Meta’s newest tool makes it very easy for the company to track you. The social media giant recently introduced a new feature called Link History to the Facebook app for iPhone and Android. Facebook’s parent company claims the setting is a tool for users to keep all of their browser history in one spot. However, is there more than meets the eye? Facebook’s latest feature raises plenty of privacy concerns and worries about Meta’s information collection.
What is Meta’s Link History?
How to turn Link History on
- Open the Facebook app on your phone (be sure that your app is updated)
- Click your profile icon in the lower right corner (also has three horizontal lines in a smaller circle)
- Scroll down and click Settings & privacy
- Then tap Settings
- Scroll down and click Browser
- Next to Allow link history toggle it ON
- Then tap Allow to confirm
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Accessing Link History in the Facebook app
Once you’ve turned Link History on, here’s how you can access it.
- Open the Facebook app on your phone
- Click on three horizontal lines with the word Menu below in the lower right corner
- Scroll down and click Settings & Privacy
- Then select Link History
- Scroll to view your Link History
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How to keep Facebook from tracking your information
Facebook collects a lot of information on you, even if you haven’t signed up for an account. Link History is another, more transparent avenue for Meta’s data collection. If you want to safeguard your information from Link History, here’s how to turn off Link History.
- Open the Facebook app on your phone
- Click on three horizontal lines with the word Menu below in the lower right corner
- Scroll down and click Settings & privacy
- Then tap Settings
- Select Browser
- Then, toggle off “Allow link history”
- Then tap Don’t allow to confirm your decision
It is important to note that Link History is only available on Facebook’s mobile app. You cannot access it on a computer. When you turn Link History off, Meta will immediately clear your link history, and you will no longer be able to see any link you’ve visited. The company claims that it won’t save your link history or use it to improve your ads across Meta technologies once it’s turned off. Also, when you turn Link History off, the company says it may take up to 90 days to complete the deletion process.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Meta makes billions of dollars off data collection. This is just a more transparent way for the company to tell its users it’s actively tracking the links they use. Meta has been actively pushing more information about how its platforms work, how it’s tracking you, and how it’s using your information. But there are still questions on if Meta is giving users the full picture.
How do you feel about Meta’s Link History feature? Do you think it is useful or invasive? Let us know by commenting below.
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