The “Off-Facebook Activity” tool lets you see — and somewhat control — what other sites and apps tell Facebook about you.
Facebook users just got a new glimpse into — and a little control over — the myriad ways the social network tracks what they do when they’re not using Facebook. If you didn’t already realize it, by the way, Facebook is tracking an astounding amount of what you do when you’re not using the platform, an activity also known as living life in the real world.
The new Off-Facebook Activity tool, which the company announced last August, has finally launched. It can tell you which companies are supplying Facebook with information about your real-world activity — for example, that you visited their website or purchased a product from it.
Why does Facebook want this? Because it can then match that information with your Facebook profile and target ads to you (or, in Facebook’s words, “personalize your experience”). A lot of times when you think Facebook is listening to your phone conversations based on how specific its ads are, it’s actually because of how extensive (and hidden) its offsite data collection is.
Be mindful what information you allow social media to gather about you and your family. Once collected it will be used for in a variety of numerous profit generating ways.
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