There have been plenty of allegations over the years hinting that Facebook is listening to us through our smartphone microphones. Although the company has denied it countless times, there are thousands of people claiming online that this must be true.
Why do people believe Facebook is listening to us?
Many people who use Facebook have pointed out on other social media platforms, like Twitter and TikTok, that they feel Facebook is listening to them based on ads that pop up on their page. One TikTok poster, Arlando West, posted a video stating that he and his sister were discussing a toilet. Shortly after, an advertisement for a toilet popped up on his Facebook page. He later was discussing a video game with his girlfriend that he had never heard of, and shortly after, out of nowhere, an ad for the game popped up on his Facebook page as well.
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More and more people who use Facebook have been noticing these coincidences happening, and even though the company has denied the claims both in its privacy policies listed on the site and even before Congress back in 2018, people still aren’t convinced.
Are there settings I can change on my Facebook account?
If this is something that you are concerned about, the best thing that you can do is disable Facebook’s access to your microphone. Facebook has stated that it only uses your microphone when you’re using features like Facebook Live or making a call through the app, however, you can disable this if you want by following the steps below. Just remember that you will lose access to these features if you decide to do so.
How to turn off your microphone for Facebook on an iPhone
- First, go to the app store and make sure your Facebook app is updated: Open the app store, tap the profile icon at the top and be sure to update all your apps. Also, make sure your iPhone’s operating system is updated (follow these steps)
- Then, open your Settings app
- Scroll down through your list of apps until you find Facebook and select it
- Toggle off the Microphone option. This will disable Facebook from using your iPhone’s microphone
Another way of turning off the microphone::
- Open the Settings
- Scroll down to Privacy & Security
- Click Microphone
- Scroll down to Facebook row and toggle the microphone off (to the left)
If neither of these works, you can always:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and find Facebook in the list of installed apps.
- Tap on Facebook.
- Under the section labeled Allow Facebook to Access, toggle off the microphone.
How to turn off your microphone for Facebook on an Android
- First, go to the Google Play Store app, and make sure your Facebook app is updated: Open the Google Play store, tap the profile icon, tap manage apps and device. Be sure to update your Facebook app. Also, make sure your Android’s operating system is updated (follow these steps)
- Open your Settings app and search ‘Permission’
- In the search results, select Permission Manager
- In the list of permissions, tap Microphone
- Select Facebook
- Set the microphone access to Deny
How do I keep people from hacking my Facebook account?
You should always make sure that all your social media accounts are protected because the last thing you want is someone hacking your information and making fake posts claiming to be you. Take a look at these extra steps you can take to make sure your account is always protected.
Use two-factor authentication: this will make you type in a special code along with your Facebook password each time you log in to your account. This would mean that a hacker would have to know both your password and your code to get to your account. To set up two-factor authentication:
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- Tap the Menu button on the bottom-right of your screen
- Go to Settings & Privacy and select Settings
- Select Password and security
- Select Use two-factor authentication
- Select your security method for how you want to receive your code. You can choose whether you want to receive a text message, use a physical security key, or use an app such as Google Authenticator. Once you choose your method, press Continue
- Follow the on-screen instructions according to the security method you chose
- Reenter your Facebook password to confirm it is you
- Follow the rest of the onscreen instructions and press Done when complete
Make sure you’re using a current email address: if you ever have to change your password or other settings on your Facebook account, you must have an email address that you can easily access, as this is Facebook’s main way of contacting its users. Check the email address connected to your Facebook page by doing the following:
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- Tap the Menu button on the bottom-right of your screen
- Go to Settings & Privacy and select Settings
- Select Personal and account information
- Select Contact info
- The email address connected with your account will be listed. If it’s not the one you want, select Add email address and follow the on-screen prompts
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Have a strong password: you must have a strong password with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols that a hacker won’t be able to guess. It also would be helpful for you not to use this password on any other accounts you have, like social media and bank accounts. If you need to change your Facebook password:
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- Tap the Menu button on the bottom-right of your screen
- Go to Settings & Privacy and select Settings
- Select Password and security
- Select Change password and follow the onscreen prompts
Get alerts about unrecognized logins: there is a setting on your Facebook account that you can turn on that will allow Facebook to alert you if there is an attempt to log in to your account that they don’t recognize. Here’s how to turn it on:
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- Tap the Menu button on the bottom-right of your screen
- Go to Settings & Privacy and select Settings
- Select Password and security
- Select Get alerts about unrecognized logins
- Select Notifications and tap Get notifications. Then tap Save
- Select Email and tap Get email alerts. Then press Save
How Facebook targets ads and what you can do about it
Now, considering these observations, it’s natural to wonder if your phone is eavesdropping on you. While it might feel that way, there are actually other ways Facebook targets ads that don’t involve using your microphone:
How Facebook targets ads
Behavioral data: Facebook collects data on your online behavior, such as the websites you visit, the apps you use, and your interactions on the platform. This data helps create a profile of your interests and preferences.
Location data: If you have location services enabled, Facebook can use your location data to show relevant ads. For example, if you visit a LensCrafters store, you might see ads related to eyeglasses.
Social connections: Facebook also considers the interests and activities of your friends and family. If someone in your social circle is interested in a particular business, you might see ads related to that business.
Third-party data: Facebook partners with third-party data providers to gather additional information about your interests and behaviors. This data can be used to target ads more effectively.
What you can do
Review ad preferences: Go to your Facebook settings and review your ad preferences. You can see what information Facebook uses to target ads and make adjustments as needed.
Limit data sharing: Adjust your privacy settings to limit the amount of data Facebook collects. You can also disable location services for the Facebook app if you prefer.
Use ad blockers: Consider using ad blockers or privacy-focused browsers to reduce the number of targeted ads you see. You may consider blocking ads with our #1 pick Total Adblock. This comes free with the purchase of our #1 antivirus pick TotalAV.
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By understanding how Facebook targets ads and taking steps to manage your privacy settings, you can have more control over the ads you see.
Kurt’s key takeaways
As we wrap up our discussion on the belief that Facebook might be eavesdropping, it’s evident that many of you feel uneasy about how your data is used. Anecdotes of targeted ads appearing after casual conversations only add to these concerns. If you’re worried about privacy, consider adjusting your settings to limit Facebook’s access to your microphone and reviewing your ad preferences.
Have you noticed any suspicious ads or activity on your Facebook page? Let us know.
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