Facebook is one of the most controversial social media platforms that has significantly increased its number of users worldwide. Considerably, it gained a lot of users due to its features that relatively entices many people around the globe.
One of the important factors to put into consideration when entering social media and before trying to register is the safety of the account holder’s information. This includes privacy.
As we all know, Facebook has been associated with the misuse and inappropriate collection of data a few years back. Cambridge Analytica, a British political firm, has caught the breach which made Facebook and its entirety fix the problem to better improve its services to its consumers.
With great exposure, Facebook released a much clearer privacy policy back in April 2018. In this release, the said social media company has elaborated its policies on how the data is collected and used. The mysterious terms have been rephrased to much more understandable phrases in order to prevent any misconception.
What are the data collected by Facebook?
In order to use the services and products rendered by Facebook, data needs to be collected. The information you have entered will be collected and used as you further utilize it.
Your personal information
As soon as you register, you are providing Facebook the right to collect your personal information such as your name, age or birthdate, and e-mail address. Depending on how you use the services, Facebook can also collect your relationship status, religious views, political views, racial origin, health, who you are interested in, and your philosophical views.
The data you are engaged in while using it
Facebook can also collect data in the manner of usage. It can collect such information on what you are engaged in, who you are connected with, and the content you view. This includes the profile, photos, posts, and videos you view, the actions you take while using it, and the period of time you are active in such actions.
Facebook will also collect the data of who you are chatting with, the likes you have given, your favorite things to do while using their services or products, the website you have visited, and what you have purchased using their credits. It will also collect the data of the pages, the people, the account, and even hashtags you are associated with and how you are engaged in the groups you’re with.
It will also collect the information on your address book or log history, depending on your sync settings to be able to help you connect with the people you might know.
When you purchase a product via Facebook, or make financial transactions with a donation or game purchase, it will collect your billing information. This includes your card details, like debit or credit card number, your authentication details, your billing details, your shipping information, and your contact information.
Same as the information provided by the Facebook partners or the affiliated partners, if you use a service, app, or play a game affiliated with Facebook, the information is shared with Facebook directly. This is done to provide you suggestions or show you related features about the service.
What others do
Facebook also receives and analyzes the data given by someone you are connected with. It collects information on the comment on your photos, the photos of you shared by others, what others tagged you in, the message they sent you, and the frequency or the date of the action.
Your device information
To personalize the things you see, Facebook also collects the information about your device. It will analyze what type of device you use if it is a phone, tablet, laptop, computer, or a TV.
It will collect your device attributes like the operating system of your device, the software version, the signal strength, battery level, storage space, browser type, and more. It will also collect data on what the device does. The information about your mouse movement is noted and it will also know if your windows are foregrounded or backgrounded.
The manner of using Facebook can also let it collect the information of the device ID or its username. If you are playing a game or you use Facebook using a different device. Facebook also collects the data of your device signal. It uses your device signal associating to a nearby WIFI access points, cell towers, Bluetooth signals, and other signals around you.
Depending on your location-sharing settings, if it is turned on, Facebook will collect the data of where you take photos and the location you upload them from.
To help you improve your streaming, it will also collect your mobile operator, your time zone, your mobile number, and your speed connection and cookie data.
Conclusion
All the information collected by Facebook will be entered by the user. Depending on your discretion, giving sensitive details will be up to you. However, Facebook can give you the opportunity to manage your settings if you want it privately or publicly presented.
Less you know, Facebook is actually an advertising company. How it earns depends on the advertisements and services sold by it. How it uses the information it collected is pretty clear. It utilizes it to manage all the ads and services to the parties that may be interested in it.
Before entering into registering with a social media platform like Facebook, you must acknowledge and understand how it collects your information to prevent any further issues. In the end, the data being collected from you is the data you have given in the first place.
The Facebook privacy policy has been improved in its pledge to protect the information given by the user for safety reasons. It has also been rephrased to make people know and clearly understand how it works.
