Facebook and Google are tracking our habits and even pushing Alcohol and Tobacco advertising at teenagers when visiting other sites.
If you have an Apple iPhone or iPad. Here is how to stop them.
In April 2021, the findings were revealed in a report, released, by lobby group Reset Australia — the local arm of a global initiative working to “counter digital threats to democracy”.
As well as gleaning information about users from activity on Facebook, online trackers — known as “cookies” — can follow users as they browse elsewhere on the internet.
The data sets are then used to create targeted ads by social media sites, such as Facebook.
Investigations overseas have shown tracking and profiling occurs on other big tech platforms like Instagram — owned by Facebook — and YouTube.
“What we found was there was no difference in the way they were treating teenager's data,” Reset Australia executive director Chris Cooper said.
Apple iPhone and iPad devices have built-in “Privacy” settings that allow users to stop Facebook tracking your activities outside of the Facebook app.
Apple are concerned about the practice and in its latest iOS update (14.5.x) has set it to deny access as a default.
Even if you are not using iOS 14.5.xxx or higher, your iPhone and iPad may already have the ability to block App tracking.
Try the following Settings >> Privacy
then Tracking
and if available, make sure “Allow Apps to Request to Track” is set to “OFF” or Grey as per the image below.
To update to the latest iOS version (currently 14.5.1 @ 4 May 2021) do the following on your iPhone or iPad.
In Settings goto General
then General >> Software Update
If an update is available, a notification such as the following will be seen
14.5.1 has recently been released which fixes a bug in 14.5
To download and install the update the following has to be in place for your iPhone or iPad.
- You MUST be connected to WIFI
- You MUST have the phone or iPad connected to POWER
- You MUST have at least 20% battery power
Only with the above conditions met, will the update commence.
Once the update has been installed, goto Settings >> Privacy >> Tracking and make sure make “Allow Apps to Request to Track” is set to “OFF” or Greyed out.
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