Privacy experts warn about Facebook’s ‘link history’

Zach Myers
·2 min read
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(WTTV/WXIN) – Some privacy experts are raising concerns about the new “link history” feature on Facebook.

The feature tracks everything you click on and watch in Facebook’s mobile browser on iPhone and Android devices. Meta says the feature is meant to improve your browsing experience so “you’ll never lose a link again.”

While that makes it sound like the feature will customize your timeline to feed you things you’re interested in, the watchdogs at Gizmodo argue that it’s really meant to target you with ads based on your browsing history. Other experts point out that Facebook didn’t make it an “opt in” feature. Instead, you have to “opt out” of it.

Writers at Benzinga also point out that if you choose to “opt out,” it can take up to 90 days for your link history to be deleted.

Of course, if you’re okay with the link history feature, then there’s no problem here. If you’re not, you can turn if off. Here are the directions from Facebook’s help page.

Turn link history on or off:

  1. Tap any link inside the Facebook app to open Facebook’s Mobile Browser.

  2. Tap the three dots in the bottom right, then tap Go to Settings.

  3. To turn link history on, tap the toggle switch next to Allow link history, then tap Allow to confirm.

  4. To turn link history off, tap the toggle switch next to Allow link history, then tap Don’t allow to confirm. Note: When you turn link history off, we will immediately clear your link history, and you will no longer be able to see any links you’ve visited. Additionally, we 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. Learn more in our Privacy Policy.

Learn more about what else you can do from your Browser settings.

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