How Does Facebook Track You?
We’ve become a society intent on sharing… everything. How many times do you scroll through your Facebook feed and sigh at the information people are spewing forth? It goes further than that.
1. Facebook Like and Share Plug-In Tracking
The Facebook “Like” and “Share” buttons found on almost every website funnel data back into the Facebook advertising algorithm. The presence of the Facebook social share buttons means Facebook is hoovering up your data, regardless of whether you have an account or not.
The European Union found that site owners could be held liable for transmitting private data to Facebook with obtaining the explicit consent of the users. The ruling doesn’t stop Facebook or other companies using social media plug-ins. However, it could force Facebook to offer users the chance to opt-out of tracking on websites outside of its control.
2. Facebook Pixel
The Facebook pixel “is an analytics tool that allows you to measure the effectiveness of your advertising by understanding the actions that people take on your website.” Sounds great, right? For a website owner, a Facebook pixel grants insight into how effective your advertising is. It does this by tracking the actions of the people using the site and feeding back to Facebook.
As with Facebook tracking via the Like and Share social plug-ins, the crux of the issue is whether Facebook provides enough information to users to make informed decisions regarding data tracking.
3. Facebook Cookies
Facebook places a cookie on your computer if you have a Facebook account. It also places a cookie on your computer if you use “Facebook Products, including our website or apps, or visit other websites and apps that use Facebook Products (including the Like button or other Facebook Technologies).”
Regardless of whether you have an account, if you even use a site using a Facebook Product, you receive a Facebook tracking cookie.
Facebook Tracks Users, Even Without an Account
I often hear people say they are free from Facebook tracking because they do not have an account. Well, the joke is on them (or us? All of us?!). One of the reasons Facebook’s advertising works so well is the immense amount of websites and services feeding data back to Facebook’s advertising arm. That includes data gathered using the methods laid out above.
When you visit sites like WhatsApp and Instagram, regardless of your Facebook user status, Facebook receives an IP address, location, browser details, and more. And the best bit of all? Facebook tracking cookies never expire.
Why Is Facebook Tracking Me?
Advertising and money. At this point, most internet users understand that online tracking is de rigueur. Each link is another opportunity for Facebook or another advertising company to track us.
Also, your data, regardless of user status, helps to increase the volume of advertising target data. It is a win-win for Facebook. Concise data that their business account holders can make better use of.
Tech giants like Facebook and Google are now so large that a $5 billion fine isn’t a deterrent. It is an operating cost, the price of doing business with your data.
Unfortunately, tracking and advertising are central to the modern internet. Have you ever tried running the privacy-focused browser extensions NoScript or PrivacyBadger (more on these extensions in a moment)? Many sites break without the enormous number of advertising and tracking scripts embedded in their code.
How Do I Stop Facebook Tracking Me?
The big question, the one you want the answer to how do you stop Facebook tracking your movements around the internet? Is it possible to stop Facebook tracking you? Can you block a Facebook pixel?
Thankfully, there are several great solutions, and, better yet, many of them will stop other invasive tracking practices, too.
NoScript
NoScript is highly recommended but can be a steep learning curve. Your internet that works everywhere might suddenly be completely broken because of the blocked scripts. So while your privacy will be excellent, you might struggle to book flights, or even watch a video without tweaking your script settings. I
Privacy Badger
Privacy Badger is one of the next best things to NoScript. Where NoScript is for techies (but worth learning, I might add), you could install PrivacyBadger on your Grandma’s computer, knowing she’ll be protected and able to book flights.
PrivacyBadger uses an easy-to-manage system of colored sliders. Green means okay, Yellow means third-party tracking but necessary for a functioning web, Red means content and scripts have been disabled.
Use a Privacy-Focused Alternative Browser
If you are using Google’s Chrome browser, you are being tracked. But you don’t have to fear your browser tracking your online activity. There are several privacy-focused browser alternatives you can use to stop Facebook tracking.
1. Epic Privacy Browser:Epic Privacy Browser protects you from “600+ tracking attempts in an average browsing session” and can see lower-quoted prices for flights and other services. It also has an integrated VPN with servers in eight countries.
2. Tor BrowserTor is free anonymity software that usually runs as part of a modified Mozilla Firefox browser. It is well known as the home of darknet markets, dissidents, and other nefarious services. However, you can use it to stop trackers and keep
3. BraveBrave is a Chromium-based browser with a complete focus on privacy and security. It features an interesting approach to whitelisting: adding tiny micro-payments for your favorite publications.
