Feel free to disable this new option launched by Facebook in its application
An interesting update to the Facebook app has been released that could change the way we interact with links on the platform. This is the new “History of Links” feature, which is now available on both iOS and Android. The feature, which saves the websites we’ve visited in the last 30 days via the Facebook app, raises some questions about privacy and user experience personalization.
The first thing that caught my attention is that this function is enabled by default, although users receive a notification to adjust it according to our preferences. It is important to note that links accessed through Messenger conversations are not included in this log, a detail that is relevant for those of us who use this messaging feature intensively.
However, I can’t ignore the privacy concerns this entails. As Facebook has pointed out, this record can be used to target personalized ads. While this is a common practice on digital platforms, the question always arises as to how far our data is being used.
For those who prefer tighter control, the process of activating or deactivating this feature is simple and straightforward within the app. By deactivating it, Facebook promises to delete the history immediately, although it notes that it can take up to 90 days to completely delete the data.
To do this, simply follow the steps explained by Facebook in this link:
- Click on any link within the Facebook app to open the Facebook mobile browser.
- Click on the three dots at the bottom right, then click on “Go to Settings.”.
- Click the button next to Allow Link History, then click Don't Allow to confirm.
From that moment on, all the information that was saved up until that moment will be deleted. We will not be able to go back to the links we visited again and will have to search for them again. But most importantly, Meta will not save the history of the links to improve the ads within the company. As stated on its website, Meta can take up to 90 days to complete the removal process. So, if we are not really interested, it is better to deactivate the function as soon as possible.
This feature is slowly rolling out worldwide, so it may not be available on your mobile phone yet. But when you do see this option, feel free to disable it.