{"id":138755,"date":"2019-05-15T18:37:08","date_gmt":"2019-05-15T18:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=138755"},"modified":"2025-07-01T21:57:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:57:19","slug":"facebook-clear-history-preparations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/facebook-clear-history-preparations\/","title":{"rendered":"Facebook braces for users who will erase their data"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138765\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/700_Facebook_ads_iqqz8u.jpg\" alt=\"Facebook ads\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Before launching its new &#8220;clear history&#8221; feature, Facebook is<strong> prepping advertisers<\/strong> for the change.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, Facebook announced they were <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.fb.com\/news\/2018\/05\/f8-2018-day-1\/?ref=FBB_WhatBusinessesShouldKnow#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">adding a &#8220;clear history&#8221; feature. <\/a>The feature would show Facebook users what apps and websites were sending data to Facebook. You could then <strong>clear the data<\/strong> from your account, and then <strong>delete all the information currently collected.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Facebook said in a blog post that there are<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/business\/news\/what-businesses-should-know-about-the-upcoming-tool-for-managing-off-facebook-activity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> four key takeaways <\/a>for advertisers as they unroll the clear history tool:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Giving people transparency and control is good for businesses<\/li>\n<li>We&#8217;re showing people how advertisers use our tools<\/li>\n<li>This feature may impact targeting<\/li>\n<li>Measurement will remain intact<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-card-program\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-program__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__img\" alt=\"Facebook\" src=\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_optimized,f_auto\/p\/8a6eafba-96d2-11e6-b334-00163ec9f5fa\/77332936\/facebook-logo.png\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-title\">\r\n        <span class=\"sc-card-program__title\">Facebook<\/span>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-program__button sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/author\/facebook\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Download free \u25ba<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-rating\">\r\n        <svg class=\"rating-score__content\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.1\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 50 50\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><path class=\"rating-score__background rating-score--good\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><path class=\"rating-score__value rating-score__value--70\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-dashoffset=\"70\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><text class=\"rating-score__number\" content=\"7\" text-anchor=\"middle\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 1 25 31.0837)\" data-auto=\"app-user-score\">7<\/text><\/svg>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <span class=\"sc-card-program__description\"><\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__bigpic\" src=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-program__link track-link sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/author\/facebook\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h2>Giving people transparency and control is good for businesses<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138771\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Uninstall_facebook_a47bcd.jpg\" alt=\"Uninstall facebook\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This point was more of an explanation as to why they are doing it. Facebook and the apps under its umbrella: Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger are all <strong>free for users.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is only possible because of advertisers. Facebook did not flat-out say that they were unethically collecting user data for more targeting advertisers. However, they did say that the company can provide advertising options while also <strong>protecting users&#8217; privacy.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Facebook has been under fire for how they&#8217;ve been collecting user data. Trust us, we&#8217;ve been covering it:<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-starred-link\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-starred-link__img\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2018\/09\/facebook-thumbs-down-192.jpg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-title\">\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-starred-link__title\">Facebook steals information about your menstrual cycles, home buying, more<\/p>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__button\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/facebook-stealing-app-info\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\">Read now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/facebook-stealing-app-info\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>Along with the bad publicity, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/why-facebook-is-losing-teens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">many users have been deleting Facebook. <\/a>According to a report for the Pew Research Center, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fact-tank\/2018\/09\/05\/americans-are-changing-their-relationship-with-facebook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">44% of young American Facebook users deleted the app.\u00a0<\/a>Basically, Facebook has realized that they can&#8217;t advertise to users if there are no users.<\/p>\n<h2>Showing people how advertisers use Facebook&#8217;s tools<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138782\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Facebook_biz_jvjgb2.jpg\" alt=\"Facebook biz\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This one is a bit self-explanatory. Facebook has data on its users; now, they want users to know what advertisers are doing with it.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s where the problem lies: Facebook hasn&#8217;t given us the resources that show 100% clarity of what is happening with our data.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/full_data_use_policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook&#8217;s data policy,\u00a0<\/a>they collect data &#8220;including information about your <strong>interests, actions, and connections<\/strong> &#8211; to select and personalize ads, offers, and other sponsored content.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ads\/preferences\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">select your advertising preferences <\/a>with Facebook.<\/p>\n<p>However, this doesn&#8217;t cover everything by a long shot. Recently, it was discovered that Facebook was using user data as a leveraging point to gain advertisers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-starred-link\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-starred-link__img\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2017\/07\/facebook-192.jpg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-title\">\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-starred-link__title\">Leaked docs: Zuckerberg leveraged Facebook user data<\/p>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__button\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/zuckerberg-leveraged-facebook-user-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\">Read now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/zuckerberg-leveraged-facebook-user-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>In one case, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/social-media\/mark-zuckerberg-leveraged-facebook-user-data-fight-rivals-help-friends-n994706\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook gave Amazon extensive user data information.<\/a> This was because Amazon was spending money on Facebook advertising.<\/p>\n<h2>This feature may impact targeting<\/h2>\n<p>Facebook is clarifying that if a user disconnects their data, <strong>their data can no longer be used for targeted ads<\/strong>. Basically, many advertising strategies are going to have to change as a result.<\/p>\n<p>Facebook was recently <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/hud-charges-facebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">charged by HUD for discriminating users<\/a> with how they targeted ads. Basically, companies could refuse to advertise to users due to their race, gender, and sexuality.<\/p>\n<h2>Measurement will remain intact<\/h2>\n<p>For its advertisers, Facebook has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/business\/measurement\/measure-ads\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tools for measuring how ads are performing.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, these tools will NOT give businesses access to personal data (not that it ever did) Basically, this is a feature that will not be changing, and Facebook wants advertisers to know that.<\/p>\n<h2>What should <em>you<\/em> take away?<\/h2>\n<p>Facebook has been in a lot of hot water over how it has handled user data and privacy. In fact, they may be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/04\/24\/technology\/facebook-ftc-fine-privacy.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fined up to $5 billion by the Federal Trade Commission<\/a> over privacy issues.<\/p>\n<p>With scandals, fines, and people leaving Facebook in droves, Facebook is finally making some changes. They are also making sure that their advertisers know it is coming.<\/p>\n<p>Is this going to solve all of our problems with Facebook collecting our data? <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/facebook-shares-your-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">As history shows,<\/a> probably not. However, this does look like a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Facebook is letting users clear their data history, but how will this affect the ad experience?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9180,"featured_media":138773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[1015],"tags":[2353,1059,1908,1624,1988],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-138755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-app-subdomain-redirectionfacebook","tag-facebook","tag-personal-data","tag-privacy","tag-scandal"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9180"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138755"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":326050,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138755\/revisions\/326050"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138755"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=138755"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=138755"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=138755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}