How To Change Facebook Privacy Settings For Improved User Security

In the era of rampant data collection and targeted advertising, maintaining privacy on social media platforms has become a paramount concern for users. Facebook, with its billions of users, is no exception. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to change your Facebook privacy settings to enhance your security and protect your personal information.

Accessing Facebook Privacy Settings

To begin, you need to access Facebook's privacy settings. On your smartphone, open the Facebook app and sign in. Tap the three horizontal lines (the “hamburger menu”) at the top right of the app. This will take you to the Menu, where you should scroll down to the bottom and select “Settings & Privacy,” followed by “Settings”[2][3].

Privacy Checkup

One of the most comprehensive tools for managing your privacy is the “Privacy Checkup.” You can find this in the “Account” section of your settings. Here, you can make several critical changes:

Who can see what you share: Ensure that your personal information is set to “only me” or “friends.” This includes your posts, photos, and other shared content.
How to keep your account secure: Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security to your account. To do this, go to “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings” > “Security and Login” > “Use two-factor authentication” and click the “Edit” button next to this option[2][4].
How people can find you on Facebook: Adjust settings related to who can send you friend requests, see your phone number, and how people can search for you via phone number or email address. You can also control how search engines like Google can index your profile[2][3].

Managing Permissions

In the “Permissions” section, you can make several important changes:

Location: Turn off location services so Facebook cannot track your precise location. Go to “Settings” > “Permissions” > “Location” and disable it[2][3].
Face Recognition: Disable Facebook’s face recognition feature to prevent the platform from using facial recognition technology on your photos. This can be done in the “Permissions” section under “Face Recognition”[2][3].
Off-Facebook Activity: Ensure you are not sharing your off-Facebook activity with the platform. This setting can be found in the “Permissions” section under “Off-Facebook Activity”[2][3].

Ad Preferences and Data Settings

To limit how advertisers can target you, navigate to the “Your ad preferences on Facebook” section:

Ad Preferences: Deselect all the ways Facebook allows advertisers to reach you based on your profile information, such as relationship status, employer, job title, and education. You can also hide who can see if you “like” a page[2].
Data Settings: Review and remove any apps and companies you don’t recognize from accessing your data. Additionally, turn off your location settings here to further restrict data collection[2].

Limiting Past and Future Post Permissions

Managing your past and future posts is crucial for maintaining privacy:

Limit Past Posts: Go to Settings > Privacy and click on “Limit Past Posts.” This will change the permissions of your past posts to “friends” or a more restricted setting. Note that once you make this change, you cannot undo it without individually changing each post back to its original setting[3].
Change Future Post Permissions: In the “Privacy Checkup” section, go to “Who Can See What you Share” and adjust the default permission settings for future posts and photos. It is recommended to set these to “Friends” or “Only Me” depending on your desired level of privacy[3].

Reviewing Your Information

The “Your Information” section provides a detailed view of the data Facebook has collected about you. Here, you can see what you’ve posted, searched, and interacted with recently. You also have the option to download a copy of your information, which includes voting locations, messages, saved items, pages you’ve liked, and more. This is a valuable tool for understanding the extent of Facebook’s data collection and making informed decisions about your privacy[2].

Regularly Updating Your Settings

Given the dynamic nature of online privacy, it is essential to regularly review and update your Facebook privacy settings. Set a reminder to revisit these settings every month to ensure your account remains as private as possible and to stay informed about any changes in Facebook’s policies[2]. By taking these steps, you can significantly enhance your security and protect your personal information on Facebook.