A NEW privacy setting on Facebook has recently come under fire from users and privacy advocates.
The setting, called “link history,” tracks every single link you click on within the Facebook app’s built-in browser.
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This means that Facebook can not only see which websites you visit, but also the specific articles, videos, and other content you interact with.
Facebook claims that this data is used to show users more relevant advertisements.
However, many users and privacy experts are concerned about the potential for misuse.
In addition to privacy concerns, some users are also simply annoyed by the intrusive nature of link history.
“It [also] offers no additional benefits to regular users — despite Facebook trumpeting the convenience of being able to find any link you ever opened at any moment,” cybersecurity firm Kaspersky writes on its blog.
Thankfully, for those of you who don’t like the idea of Facebook tracking your every move, you can turn this feature off.
HOW TO DISABLE THIS FEATURE
It’s important to note that link history is only available in Facebook mobile apps.
The feature is not available when you use the web version of the social network, Kaspersky said.
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First, you need to go to the app and check to see if link history is enabled on your account.
To do this, simply go to the “Settings” menu and then tap on “Privacy.”
Scroll down to Browser tap it, and then toggle Allow link history off if it’s on.
Once you’ve done that, Facebook will no longer track your clicks within the app.
While you’re there, you can also clear your link history by tapping “Clear” next to “Link History.”
This isn’t the first time Facebook has collected vast amounts of data on its users.
Experts note that turning off link history will only prevent Facebook from tracking your clicks within the app.
It will not prevent Facebook from tracking your activity on the web in general.
However, it is a good step in the right direction for users who are concerned about their privacy.
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
