In response to growing concerns about user data privacy, Meta has introduced Activity Off-Meta Technologies, a set of privacy settings that give users greater control over their online activity, including the data shared with Meta's platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
This marks a significant step towards strengthening user privacy and reducing the extensive tracking that has been associated with the company's services.
How to stop Instagram from tracking your internet activity
For Instagram users, the process is straightforward:
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Open the Instagram app and tap on your profile picture located in the bottom right corner.
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Access the settings by tapping on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner, then select "Settings and Privacy."
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Go to "Activity" and click on "Activity Off Meta Technologies."
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To prevent Instagram from tracking your activity on other apps and websites, simply toggle on "Disconnect Future Activity."
Managing past activity
For those who wish to manage their past activity, a few additional steps can be taken:
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From the "Activity Off Meta Technologies" page, tap on "Your Information and Permissions" and then "Your Activity off Meta Technologies."
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On this page, users can:
- See recent activity.
- Disconnect specific app activity.
- Clear old data.
By choosing "Manage Future Activity" and "Disconnect Future Activity," users can also eliminate their past activity, offering a more comprehensive level of privacy.
How to stop Facebook from tracking your internet activity
Similarly, Facebook users can follow these steps:
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Visit your Facebook profile and click on the three dots located in the top right corner.
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Select "Settings & Privacy" and then navigate to "Settings."
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In the left column, click on "Your Facebook Information," and from there, click on "Off-Facebook Activity."
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Access "Manage Your Off-Facebook Activity" and choose "Manage Future Activity."
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Toggle off "Future Off-Facebook Activity" to halt Facebook from tracking your activity on other apps and websites.
In addition to these measures, users also have the option to disconnect specific apps and websites from Facebook by clicking on the "Manage Your Off-Facebook Activity" button and selecting "Manage Activity."
Despite these enhanced privacy settings, it's essential to note that Meta may still obtain data from other sources, including third-party advertisers.
To further protect your online privacy, consider using a private browsing mode or a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when accessing the internet.
