Unlocking the Secret Menu: Discover What Instagram and Facebook Truly Know About You and Learn How to Access It
By Rob Waugh, Tech Correspondent for Dailymail.Com
Updated: 12:59 BST, 15 July 2023
It’s no secret that social networks like Instagram and Facebook thrive on gathering vast amounts of user data for advertisers. However, what you might not be aware of is the existence of hidden menus that unveil the extent of information these apps possess about you.
Within the Instagram app, you have the ability to delve into the depths of Meta – the company behind Instagram, Facebook, and the newly introduced character-limited app, Threads – and unearth a wealth of personal data. To access this menu, simply navigate to the Settings and Privacy section of the app, then proceed to the Accounts Center. Here, you’ll find your profiles for both Facebook and Instagram.
Once located within the Account Settings, delve into Ad Preferences, then proceed to Ad Topics. Brace yourself for a shortlist of topics that pertain to your interests. To gain deeper insights, select “View and Manage Topics” to reveal your comprehensive list. Do keep in mind that this menu is tucked away discreetly within the app’s settings.
Be prepared for an extraordinary range of interests if you’ve been actively using Facebook and Instagram for an extended period. During our tests, we discovered a staggering 500 interests ranging from Guns N’ Roses to fruit and vegetable juice. For each entry on your list, simply tap on it and specify whether you wish to see more or fewer ads related to that topic.
Furthermore, there is a separate ‘Ad Settings’ menu where you can personalize your preferences regarding the categories used to target you. Note that adjusting these settings may require you to input your Facebook password for added security measures.
Instagram proudly claims that advertisers can “decide who matters most to your business, then reach them with adjustable targeting options.” In 2022, Meta raked in a staggering $116.61 billion in revenue, primarily driven by advertising on their social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.
According to Paul Bischoff, a security and privacy advocate at Comparitech, Instagram and Threads, like many other social networks, gather data about you through three means. Firstly, there’s the information you willingly provide, such as your account signup details, profile information, and posts. Then, there’s the data collected in the background as you utilize the service, which includes your IP address, location, post interactions, usage patterns, language, and device information. Lastly, social networks can obtain information from third parties, including data brokers, public records, and tracking cookies. When you use Facebook or Instagram, a tracking cookie is placed on your device, enabling them to monitor your online activities.
These cookies have the capability to track the websites you visit and interact with. If you encounter a Facebook Like or Share button, or a Facebook comments section on a third-party website, it is highly likely that these elements are tracking your behavior on behalf of Facebook. By scrutinizing the advertising ID within the tracking cookie, Facebook can log your visit.
Bischoff further explains that all of this collected information is amalgamated to form user profiles. While these profiles don’t contain directly identifiable information like your name or contact details, they assign you a unique advertising ID. Even without explicit identification, the information contained within these profiles can be remarkably specific, often pertaining to a particular individual. Third-party advertisers can target these profiles based on location or specific interests, for instance.
It’s safe to say that your online activity leaves behind a digital footprint that powers the targeted advertising industry. By accessing these secret menus, you gain valuable insight into the information held by Instagram and Facebook. It’s essential to remain vigilant and conscious of the digital trail you leave behind in the realm of social media.
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