THERE’S an easy way to find out what Facebook knows about you—you just have to ask. In 2020, the social media giant launched an online portal that allows all users to access their historical data and to request specific types of information for download across custom time frames.
According to The Washington Post, Facebook can learn not only what you post, but also every photo you’ve uploaded, every video you’ve watched, every “recognised” device you’ve used to log in, and every major settings change you’ve made, as well as every birthday wish you’ve posted or received and every Friend Request you’ve sent, received, or ignored.
The piece notes that Facebook actually collects information from your not-on-Facebook, real-world life to shape the messages you see from businesses and politicians alike. Today’s programme looks at what Facebook knows about its users from other companies, including discoveries like article views and purchases that have migrated into Facebook’s database.