How Can You Stop Facebook and Other Sites From Tracking You?

Online tracking has become a significant concern for users who value their privacy. Platforms like Facebook and other third-party apps track your activity across various websites and apps to deliver ads and personalized experiences. 

Whether you're logged into your Facebook account or not, your data is collected through features like Off-Facebook Activity, which shares your browsing information with advertisers. To regain control over your online privacy, it's crucial to learn how to stop Facebook from tracking your activity.

From managing your ad preferences and permissions to turning off future activity via Accounts Center, there are ways to disconnect from tracking and protect your personal information. 

In this guide, we'll show you how to adjust your ad settings, delete unnecessary data, and go to settings to fully manage your Off-Facebook Activity.

Companies track you for two main reasons:

• • Ad personalization: To show you ads that match your interests.
    
  • User behavior analytics: To understand how you interact with their website or app.
    
• By collecting data such as the pages you visit or items you search for, companies build a profile about your preferences and habits.

• Platforms like Facebook share your data with advertisers.
  
• Targeted ads are shown based on your online activity, such as the websites you visit and the products you browse.
  
• Facebook's Off-Facebook Activity feature tracks your browsing history even when you’re not using the app, sending this data to advertisers.
  
• Example: If you browse a clothing site, you might later see ads for those items on your Facebook feed.

• • Privacy concerns:
    
    • The more data companies collect, the more detailed your online profile becomes, including your location, browsing history, and online interactions.
      
  • Data security risks:
    
    • Your personal information could be vulnerable to data breaches.
      
    • If your data is leaked or shared without your consent, it could lead to identity theft or other cybercrimes.
      
  • Many people find online tracking unsettling, as it can feel like an invasion of privacy, especially when done without their knowledge.
    
• Why You Should Care
  
  • Even though ads seem harmless, they come at the cost of your privacy.
    
  • Protecting your data helps you:
    
    • Keep personal information safe from breaches or misuse.
      
    • Control how companies track and use your data.
      
  • Taking steps to limit tracking gives you more control over your digital privacy in today’s connected world.
    

When you visit a website, you may notice a pop-up asking you to accept "cookies." But what exactly are cookies, and why should you care?

• What Are Cookies?
  
  • Cookies are small text files that websites store on your computer or device. They remember information about your visit, such as your login details, items in your shopping cart, or even your browsing history.
    
  • For example, if you visit an online store, cookies might help the site remember what items you looked at so they can show them to you later or keep them in your cart when you return.
    
  • While some cookies are useful for improving your experience (like remembering your preferences), others are used to track your activity across different websites.
    
• Tracking Pixels and Web Beacons
  
  • Along with cookies, websites may also use tracking pixels and web beacons. These are tiny, often invisible images embedded in websites or emails.
    
  • Tracking pixels collect data about your actions, such as whether you opened an email or clicked on a specific link.
    
  • Web beacons work similarly by tracking your activity on a webpage, helping companies understand what you're doing online.
    
  • All of this information allows advertisers to follow your browsing habits, building a profile to target you with personalized ads.
    

Have you ever noticed that after browsing for a product on one website, you start seeing ads for it on Facebook or other sites? This happens because of third-party data sharing.

• How Data Sharing Works
  
  • Facebook and many other websites share your browsing data with third-party advertisers. This allows companies to track your activity even outside their own platform.
    
  • For example, when you browse a retailer’s website, information about your activity might be shared with Facebook. This is how you see ads for those products on your Facebook feed later.
    
  • Facebook’s Off-Facebook Activity feature gathers data from websites and apps that have nothing to do with Facebook, creating a detailed picture of your online behavior.
    
• Why Do They Share Data?
  
  • Websites share data to help advertisers target you with more relevant ads. The more data these companies have, the better they can tailor ads to your interests.
    
  • This practice may improve your ad experience, but it also raises privacy concerns. You may not always be aware of who has access to your data or how it’s being used.
    

Even if you manage to block cookies and tracking pixels, websites may still track you using a technique called device fingerprinting.

• What Is Device Fingerprinting?
  
  • Device fingerprinting is a method of identifying your device based on unique information like your screen size, browser type, operating system, and even the fonts installed on your device.
    
  • By collecting this data, websites can create a "fingerprint" of your device, allowing them to recognize you when you return, even if you clear your cookies or use incognito mode.
    
• Why Is It Used?
  
  • Device fingerprinting is often used by advertisers to track your online activity, but it’s harder to detect or block compared to cookies. This makes it a powerful tool for companies looking to follow your behavior without you knowing.
    
  • Although it's less visible to users, it can still be used to personalize ads, making it a significant privacy issue.
    

One of the first and easiest steps you can take to protect your privacy on Facebook is adjusting your account’s privacy settings. Facebook collects a lot of information about you, but you have control over what it tracks.

• Limiting Ad Personalization and Data Collection
  
  • Start by going to your Facebook settings. On your account, navigate to Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts > Ad Preferences.
    
  • Here, you can see what information Facebook uses to target ads at you, such as your interests, activities, and interactions.
    
  • To limit this, go to Ad Settings and switch off options like “Ads based on data from partners” and “Ads based on your activity on Facebook.”
    
• Turning Off Facebook’s “Off-Facebook Activity”
  
  • Facebook can track your activity on other websites and apps, even when you're not using Facebook. To stop this:
    
    • Go to Settings & Privacy > Your Facebook Information > Off-Facebook Activity.
      
    • From here, you can clear your history and disconnect future activity.
      
    • You can also manage which apps and websites share data with Facebook and turn off future off-Facebook activity to stop this type of tracking.
      

Browser privacy extensions are powerful tools that help block trackers and stop companies from collecting your data as you browse the internet.

• Recommended Privacy Extensions
  
  • Privacy Badger: Developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), this extension automatically blocks trackers that spy on your browsing activity.
    
  • Ghostery: Ghostery detects and blocks tracking technologies, improving your browsing speed while protecting your privacy.
    
  • uBlock Origin: A popular extension that not only blocks ads but also prevents third-party trackers from collecting your data.
    
• Browser Settings to Block Third-Party Cookies
  
  • Most browsers allow you to block third-party cookies, which are commonly used by advertisers to track you across different websites.
    
  • To block these in Chrome, for example, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data, then select “Block third-party cookies.”
    
  • Other browsers like Firefox and Edge have similar options.
    

If you're looking for an easy way to protect your privacy while browsing the web, consider using private browsing mode or switching to a privacy-focused browser.

• Private/Incognito Mode
  
  • Most browsers offer a private browsing or incognito mode that doesn’t save your browsing history, cookies, or search queries after you close the window. While this can be helpful, it doesn’t stop websites from tracking you during your session—it only prevents your device from storing that data.
    
• Privacy-Focused Browsers
  
  • Brave: Blocks ads and trackers by default, giving you a faster, more private browsing experience.
    
  • DuckDuckGo: Known for its privacy-first search engine, DuckDuckGo also offers a browser that limits tracking and prioritizes privacy.
    
  • Firefox: With enhanced tracking protection, Firefox automatically blocks many trackers and third-party cookies.
    

Many apps and websites track your location to provide personalized services or ads. While location data can be helpful for things like maps, it’s also used to target you with ads or even share your data with third parties.

• How to Turn Off Location Sharing on Mobile Devices
  
  • For iPhone:
    
    • Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
      
    • Here, you can manage which apps have access to your location and choose to share it only when using the app or never.
      
  • For Android:
    
    • Go to Settings > Location and toggle it off for individual apps.
      
• Turning Off Location Sharing on Browsers
  
  • Browsers can also track your location. In Chrome, you can go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Location, and block sites from accessing your location.
    

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a powerful tool for protecting your privacy online.

• What Does a VPN Do?
  
  • A VPN masks your IP address, making it appear as though you're browsing from a different location. This prevents websites, advertisers, and even your internet service provider (ISP) from tracking your online activity.
    
  • It also encrypts your internet connection, adding an extra layer of security to your browsing, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks.

If you’re tired of seeing personalized ads based on your online activity, you can opt out of ad targeting.

• Tools for Opting Out
  
  • AdChoices: Many websites and apps display a small AdChoices icon in the corner of ads. Clicking on this icon allows you to adjust your ad preferences or opt out of ads.
    
• Opting Out Through Device Settings
  
  • Both iOS and Android allow you to limit ad tracking.
    
    • For iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising, and toggle off personalized ads.
      
    • For Android: Go to Settings > Google > Ads, and toggle on “Opt out of ads personalization.”

If you’re concerned about how much Facebook can use your personal data, it’s time to take control. Facebook collects a lot of web activity and shares it with advertisers to send you targeted ads. Luckily, there are ways to limit this data collection and manage what information Facebook has access to. Here’s a guide that will show you how to stop Facebook from tracking your activities and how to adjust your privacy settings.

One of the first steps is to turn off Facebook tracking for your off-platform activity. Facebook’s Off-Meta Technologies tool tracks your actions across the web and collects data from other apps and websites. To stop this:

1. Go to Settings & Privacy on your Facebook account by clicking the top-right corner of the app.
2. Select Your Facebook Information, then choose Off-Facebook Activity.
3. Here, you can see the data Facebook has collected about you from other sources. Click Manage to control what information is tracked and shared.
4. You can also choose to clear history and remove your data from the record of off-Facebook activity.

Facebook also allows you to customize the types of information advertisers can access. By adjusting your ad settings, you can limit the number of ads you see and control the data Facebook uses for advertising purposes:

1. In Settings & Privacy, go to Ad Preferences.
2. Here, you’ll find options to adjust how your Facebook ad experience is personalized. You can opt out of ads based on data from business tools, such as websites or apps you’ve interacted with outside of Facebook.
3. If you don’t want Facebook to use data from other apps or third-party websites, turn off the relevant options under Ad Settings.

For many users, understanding what data Facebook has collected is the first step to taking control. Facebook allows you to download your information, which includes your activity on Facebook, ad interactions, and more:

1. In Settings & Privacy, navigate to Download Your Information.
2. Choose which types of information you’d like to download, such as posts, comments, or ads you’ve interacted with.
3. This feature will give you insight into what Facebook also collects about you, and it can help you decide what changes to make in your privacy settings.

If you want an extra layer of protection, consider using Adblock software or browser extensions that block trackers. These tools, along with Facebook’s privacy features, help minimize tracking while you’re using the platform or browsing other sites.

• Adblock tools prevent ads from appearing on your screen and stop Facebook from tracking your online behavior.
• Using privacy extensions like CNET’s recommended Adblock Plus or uBlock Origin can further reduce how Facebook tracks your web activity.

Facebook frequently introduces new features aimed at improving user privacy. Recently, Meta's Privacy Checkup tool has made it easier to adjust your privacy settings. By going through the Privacy Checkup, many users find it easier to review their information and permissions and make changes to how their data is handled.

• You’ll likely also notice other privacy options in the top-right menu, such as managing your offline activity or adjusting how Facebook handles your interactions with app developers.

Twitter collects a lot of information about what you do on and off the platform to personalize your experience and show you relevant ads. Fortunately, you can take steps to limit this data collection and protect your privacy.

• Adjusting Privacy Settings
  
  • Go to your Twitter account, click on your profile picture, and select Settings and privacy.
    
  • Under Privacy and safety, you'll find options to control how your data is collected and shared.
    
• Limit Data Sharing for Ads
  
  • In Personalization and data, turn off options like:
    
    • Personalized ads: Prevent Twitter from showing ads based on your online activity.
      
    • Track where you see Twitter content across the web: This stops Twitter from tracking your activity on other websites.
      
• Control Your Tweet Privacy
  
  • If you want more control over who sees your tweets, you can make your account private. In the Audience and tagging section, toggle on Protect your Tweets so only your followers can see what you post.
    
• Turn Off Location Data
  
  • In Location information, you can choose not to add your location to tweets and prevent Twitter from collecting your location data.

One simple way to reduce online tracking is by regularly clearing your cookies and browsing history.

• Why Clearing Cookies Matters:
  
  • As we discussed earlier, cookies are small files that websites store on your device to remember your activity, preferences, and login information. While some cookies make your browsing experience smoother (like keeping you logged in), many are used to track your movements across the web.
    
  • Advertisers and third-party companies use cookies to build a profile of your online habits, which is then used to show you ads. By clearing cookies, you can disrupt this tracking and prevent websites from gathering a long-term record of your browsing behavior.
    
• How to Clear Cookies and Browsing History:
  
  • Most browsers make it easy to clear cookies and browsing history. For example:
    
    • In Google Chrome, click the three dots in the top right corner, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data. Here, you can choose to clear cookies, cache, and browsing history.
      
    • In Firefox, click the menu button, select Settings, then go to Privacy & Security and under Cookies and Site Data, choose Clear Data.
      
  • It’s a good idea to do this regularly, especially after visiting websites you don’t fully trust or when you want to start fresh without being tracked.
    

Using social media logins like “Login with Facebook” or “Login with Google” on third-party websites may seem convenient, but it can also expose more of your data to tracking.

• Why Social Logins Are Risky:
  
  • When you use your Facebook or Google account to log into another website (like an online store or news site), you’re giving that site permission to access certain information from your social media profile. This might include your email address, friends list, or other personal details.
    
  • Additionally, this allows Facebook or Google to track what you do on those third-party sites, further expanding the data they collect on you. So, while social logins save time, they also open up your information to more tracking across the web.
    
• How to Avoid Using Social Logins:
  
  • Whenever possible, create a separate account on websites rather than using your social media login. Yes, it may take an extra minute to sign up, but it limits the amount of data shared between platforms.
    
  • If you’ve already used social media logins on various sites, you can disconnect these services:
    
    • In Facebook, go to Settings > Security and Login > Apps and Websites, where you can see and remove any apps or sites connected to your Facebook account.
      

Another important way to protect your privacy is by being mindful of the permissions you grant to apps on your phone or other devices. Many apps ask for access to your location, contacts, camera, and other personal data, but not all of them need that information to function.

• Why Reviewing App Permissions Matters:
  
  • Some apps request permissions that aren’t necessary for their main purpose. For example, a flashlight app might ask for access to your location or contacts, which is unrelated to the app's function. Granting these permissions allows apps to collect extra data about you, which can be sold to third-party advertisers or used to track your activity.
    
  • Apps may also use these permissions to gather sensitive information that you may not want to share, such as your location history or who you interact with.
    
• How to Review and Manage App Permissions:
  
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, and you’ll see a list of categories like Location Services, Contacts, Camera, etc. Here, you can review which apps have access to specific data and change their permissions.
    
  • On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions. You’ll be able to see which apps have access to different types of data and turn off permissions that seem unnecessary.
    
• Best Practices for App Permissions:
  
  • Only grant permissions that are absolutely necessary for the app to work. For example, if an app doesn’t need to know your location, deny that permission.
    
  • Periodically review the permissions you’ve granted, especially for apps you no longer use or trust.
    
  • Be wary of apps that ask for too many permissions, especially if the permissions seem unrelated to the app’s main function.
    

Protecting your privacy on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram is more important than ever. Both Facebook track your activities across apps and websites, sharing this data with third parties to show you ads. 

From location tracking to your activity off Meta technologies, a lot of your personal data is being collected. Fortunately, there are ways to regain control.

By adjusting your ad preferences, managing the Off-Facebook Activity tool, and reviewing your activity log, you can reduce how Facebook can track your online behavior. You can also limit tracking cookies, use ad blockers, and even disconnect specific activity from being shared with Facebook. Whether you want to manage the apps through Facebook that access your data, disable location tracking, or even delete your account, these steps help keep your information secure.

With this guide, we’ve shown you how to take action and protect your data from being shared with Facebook or Instagram, ensuring your privacy online is stronger than ever.