FACEBOOK has killed off some features that collect users’ data – here’s what you need to know.
Two popular features have been axed by the popular social media giant: Nearby Friends and Weather alerts.
1
The changes took place two weeks ago at the end of May following years of criticism that Facebook collects too much of users’ data.
“Nearby Friends and Weather alerts will no longer be available after May 31, 2022,” Facebook said in a statement.
Both of the tools, which were popular among Facebook users, collated location data.
The features also retained information such as background location and location history data.
Facebook officials said that the data would be erased following the discontinuation of the tools.
However, users will have the opportunity to download certain data until August 1.
Such downloadable data includes maps of places a user has visited, which can be found stored under “Location History.”
While the move is a step in the right direction for the social media giant, there is still a long way to go, experts say.
Most read in Tech
Meanwhile, some location data will still be collected “for other experiences.”
Facebook and other social media apps have been forced to slow down their data collection following the introduction of new privacy policies by Apple.
As of early 2020, app developers now have to ask iPhone users for permission to store their data from internet activity.
Apps have engaged in data tracking for years, allowing them to store your browsing history and more for targeted advertisements.
Now, iPhone users receive pop-up notifications asking if they want specific apps to have access to that data.
Around two-thirds of iPhone users are expected to have switched off app tracking to protect their privacy, according to AdWeek.
It threatens the coffers of free apps like Facebook and Instagram, which heavily rely on hoarding user data to generate revenue through ads.
