Facebook recently unveiled a new tool, now known as Off-Facebook Activity. Last year, Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a “Clear History” feature that was being created to delete data that third-party websites and apps share with Facebook.
The “Clear History” feature is actually launching in select geographies, and with the launch has also been given a new name: Off-Facebook Activity. The new name is meant to more clearly describe “exactly what kind of data” is being revealed. Users can now bring up a list of everyone sending data to Facebook, then tap on a specific app or website to learn what data is being shared. If the user doesn’t like the data being shared, they can easily block it on the website or app level or across the board. Due to much scrutiny over data-sharing over the past few years, as well as the concern of misinformation spreading on the platform, Facebook is launching this tool along with other transparency tools around advertising and content.
Here, rather than deleting the data the third-party may have collected about you, the connection between the data and your account is removed. Disconnecting from off-Facebook activity will also log you out of any apps or websites where you used Facebook to login. Facebook is aiming to make this process simple for users and easily accessible. To learn more about the tool and your options within it, visit here.
