Social media users, beware. Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook, just like the rest of Big Tech, has often targeted one Orwellian goal: to track all users, even when they are not logged in on the platform, for data collection and monetary reasons.
According to reports, Facebook is achieving this goal by launching a feature that, for the first time, makes this type of tracking visible.
The new feature, called "link history," gathers all links in one place and is found in the Facebook app. Essentially, it "documents" every link a user clicks while using the social media app. (Related: Digital spy: Study reveals phone apps could be hiding spyware that can leak personal data.)
Facebook, like Google and Microsoft, claims that the change was designed "for better user experience." The company also said that, while the feature is not mandatory, it is there by default and is sneakily "hiding" behind a solid wall of an "opt-out."
Whether you're a new or old Facebook user, chances are the change will go unnoticed, especially since many users don't bother checking the fine print. Unfortunately, this allows corporations like Meta to offer a "choice," all while knowing that in the end, they will often have their way.
According to the Facebook Help Center, link history is a list of websites that a user has visited on Facebook Mobile Browser within the last 30 days.
By default, link history is turned off until you choose to turn it on. Facebook claims that you can turn this setting on or off whenever you want.
When link history is on, any links that you have clicked on while using Facebook and visited in Facebook’s Mobile Browser will be saved in your link history for 30 days. However, the links visited in chats on Messenger will not be saved.
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Remember that when link history is on, Facebook may use link history information from Facebook’s Mobile Browser to improve your ads across Meta technologies.
How to turn link history on or off
Follow the steps below to manage your link history settings on Facebook:
- Tap any link on the Facebook app to open Facebook’s Mobile Browser.
- Tap the "more actions" icon in the bottom right, then tap "Go to Settings."
- To turn link history on, tap switch off next to "Allow link history," then tap "Allow" to confirm.
- To turn link history off, tap "switch on" next to "Allow link history," then tap "Don’t allow" to confirm. When you turn link history off, Facebook will immediately clear your link history, and you will no longer be able to see any links you’ve visited. Additionally, Facebook won't save your link history or use it to improve your ads across Meta technologies.
When you turn link history off, it may take Meta up to 90 days to complete the deletion process.
Like other Facebook settings, before you can deactivate link history on the app, users first need to be aware that it exists and then navigate to the appropriate setting to "opt out."
However, the new feature has sparked criticism from the privacy point of view. Surprisingly, mainstream tech press often single out Facebook while praising Google and Apple as "privacy warriors."
This should be viewed as part of the big political picture, where keeping pressure on Facebook as the most influential social media platform is crucial in an election year. At the same time, you must constantly question Facebook’s relentless drive to pursue cross-site user tracking.
It's a classic example of two things being true at the same time.
Facebook (Meta) doesn’t even bother pretending that it is only launching features like this to make sure that users can keep track of all visited websites and enjoy other things that improve the user experience.
This is spelled out in a section of link history’s announcement, which states: "When you allow link history, we may use your information to improve your ads across Meta technologies."
Yet the statement doesn’t clarify if any of the well-known and invasive methods it uses to track users will change in any way once link history has gone live.
Visit MetaTyranny.com for more stories about Facebook.
Watch the video below as Facebook whistleblowers talk about secret efforts to censor vaccine concerns on a global scale.
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