New Delhi: A fresh trend is sweeping through Facebook and other Meta platforms. Users are posting the same message, claiming it blocks the company from using their photos and personal data. They urge friends to copy and paste the message on their own timelines. They warn that failing to do so gives Meta legal permission to use their content.
This claim is false. Posting such a message does not change your privacy rights. When you create a Meta account, you agree to the company’s terms and conditions. These terms clearly state what data Meta collects and how it uses that data. You can read these terms anytime in your account settings.
Meta collects various types of information. It records your name, birthday, group memberships, and uploaded contacts. Meta tracks your activity, including what you watch, like, and search for. It also collects details about your device, such as the operating system, battery status, browser, network type, and location.
You can control some of this data collection by adjusting your privacy settings. You can:
- Choose who sees your posts, photos, and personal details.
- Disable “Off-Facebook Activity” to stop data collection from other apps and websites.
- Remove untrusted third-party apps.
- Change ad preferences to reduce targeted ads.
This chain-post trend is not new. Similar messages have circulated before, but this time they have gone viral in Hindi across India. Hackers and scammers often target people who share such posts because it signals they might believe misleading claims.
To protect your privacy, use Meta’s settings effectively and avoid sharing sensitive or location information publicly. If you want complete control over your data, delete your account although Meta may still store some of your information. Stay alert, update your privacy controls regularly, and think twice before posting anything online.
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