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18 things Facebook knows about you that you would have never dreamed of
We’ve all been told to be careful on Facebook. Don’t share your personal information, your bank accounts, your passwords. Don’t overshare!
But did you know that Facebook is watching you in a different way? They’re monitoring things you wouldn’t believe.
In a 454-page document presented after Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance before Congress, the social media platform of choice said it’s been tracking mouse movements, logging battery levels and monitoring devices on the user’s same network.
Outrageous!
Facebook filed the document after Zuckerberg, in his April appearance, failed to answer a lot of questions about the Cambridge Analytica scandal. It was an attempt to shed some new light, but the document still managed to be tight-lipped.
The real insight, however, was how Facebook collects data.
What is Facebook monitoring?
For example, Facebook tracks what device you’re using to access it, whether a smartphone, smart television, computer, tablet or other device. It also tracks your operating system, software versions and even your web browser.
According to Daily Mail, the document says “Facebook’s services inherently operate on a cross-device basis: understanding when people use our services across multiple devices helps us provide the same personalized experience wherever people use Facebook.”
Facebook says it does this to make sure you receive the same content whether you’re accessing it by phone or computer. And of course, this helps the company serve you more personalized ads.
It doesn’t end there. Facebook watches your mouse as it’s moving across your device’s screen. It says that way it can “help distinguish humans from bots.”
The social network also keeps a note of the file names in your system, so it can see what you might be interested in, which can influence the types of ads you see.
Are you keeping Facebook in a prominent position on your screen, or is it in the background, waiting for you to return? Facebook watches that, too.
Facebook monitors a ton of different connections from your smartphone, tablet, laptop or smart TV, so it can figure out if you typically connect in one location or on the move.
Nearby access points, beacons and cell towers can also be used to work out a rough location for the users, which Facebook can use to tailor search results and advertisements.
“We collect information about how you use our Products, such as the types of content you view or engage with; the features you use; the actions you take; the people or accounts you interact with; and the time, frequency and duration of your activities,” Facebook says.
“For example, we log when you’re using and have last used our Products, and what posts, videos, and other content you view on our Products.
“We also collect information about how you use features like our camera.”
The upshot? If you use Facebook at all, realize that it knows!
Knowing all this, is it time to delete your Facebook account? Here’s how to get rid of your Facebook account once and for all.
Tags: battery, devices, Facebook, network, operating system, web browser
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