The recent controversy surrounding Meta, the parent company of platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, has led to a notable increase in searches on how to delete these social networks. This situation arises following the announcement of changes in the company’s policies, which have been interpreted as an attempt to align with a possible administration of Donald Trump. Among the most notable changes is the weakening of policies against hate speech, which could negatively impact vulnerable communities, such as LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants.
In the face of this discontent, many users are questioning the effectiveness of simply deleting their accounts. However, the issue is more complex, as Meta continues to track the activity of its users across millions of websites and applications, regardless of whether they use their platforms or not. This tracking allows the company to obtain significant profits through targeted advertising, fueled by the collected personal information.
Meta’s business model is based on surveillance advertising, which involves intensive collection of personal data to offer highly targeted ads. The implementation of new settings on Apple devices, which complicate this type of tracking, resulted in millions of dollars in losses for the company, highlighting the critical importance of personal data in its operations.
The tracking conducted by Meta is not limited to its own platforms, as tools like the company’s tracking pixel are integrated into a wide range of websites and applications, meaning that users are constantly under surveillance. Additionally, the company encourages businesses to share data on purchases and user interactions beyond their platforms.
For those users who wish to limit data collection by Meta, there are certain steps to follow. Through the “Account Center” in the Instagram and Facebook apps, it is possible to adjust settings to turn off ad personalization based on information obtained from other apps and websites. But it is important to note that these settings do not eliminate data collection by the company.
Another alternative is to install tools like Privacy Badger, a browser extension that blocks Meta trackers and turns embedded Facebook buttons into placeholders that require a click to activate.
This scenario emphasizes the urgent need for robust federal privacy legislation that ensures users have control over their personal information. Without adequate legal structure, Meta will continue to profit from user data, compromising their privacy and leveraging their personal information for profit.
via: MiMub in Spanish
