Apple’s privacy controls just got a big boost with iOS 12. The tech giant (seriously… 67% of Americans have an Apple product) is going hard on Facebook’s data mining practices.
If you didn’t know about Facebook’s data mining practices, have a seat. Facebook tracks you around the web even when you’re logged out of it. It does this through a creepy little thing called Facebook Pixel, which is a transparent pixel that sits on web pages and reports back to Facebook which sites you’ve been to. On one hand, it’s a marketing person’s dream: you have unparalleled knowledge of your customers. For everyone else, it’s creepy. It bypasses traditional website cookies, so even if you have your browser privacy settings like Fort Knox there’s still plenty of ways for Facebook to know where you’ve been browsing. And since the Pixel is transparent, there’s very little way for you to know that you’re being tracked.
With Apple’s upcoming iOS 12, they plan to stop the tracking by notifying users about Facebook’s privacy overreach as it happens, in real time. A pop up will appear asking if you want Facebook to track you. One can imagine that this will be a full-blown option in the near future, after people a) realize how many sites are tracking them and b) get tired of constantly being asked if they want to be tracked. For too long we’ve allowed this to happen, and, quite frankly, it’s good that Apple is doing something about it.
If you’re still interested in knowing just how much Facebook knows about you, The Washington Post compiled a 98-point list of the categories that Facebook’s advertising overreach can put you in, based on the websites you visit and what you share on the site, and your “liking” history:
LocationAgeGenerationGenderLanguageEducation levelField of studySchoolEthnic affinityIncome and net worthHomeownership and typeHome valueProperty sizeSquare footage of homeYear home was builtHousehold compositionUsers who have an anniversary within 30 daysUsers who are away from family or hometownUsers who are friends with someone who has an anniversary, is newly married or engaged, recently moved, or has an upcoming birthdayUsers in long-distance relationshipsUsers in new relationshipsUsers who have new jobsUsers who are newly engagedUsers who are newly marriedUsers who have recently movedUsers who have birthdays soonParentsExpectant parentsMothers, divided by “type” (soccer, trendy, etc.)Users who are likely to engage in politicsConservatives and liberalsRelationship statusEmployerIndustryJob titleOffice typeInterestsUsers who own motorcyclesUsers who plan to buy a car (and what kind/brand of car, and how soon)Users who bought auto parts or accessories recentlyUsers who are likely to need auto parts or servicesStyle and brand of car you driveYear car was boughtAge of carHow much money user is likely to spend on next carWhere user is likely to buy next carHow many employees your company hasUsers who own small businessesUsers who work in management or are executivesUsers who have donated to charity (divided by type)Operating systemUsers who play canvas gamesUsers who own a gaming consoleUsers who have created a Facebook eventUsers who have used Facebook PaymentsUsers who have spent more than average on Facebook PaymentsUsers who administer a Facebook pageUsers who have recently uploaded photos to FacebookInternet browserEmail serviceEarly/late adopters of technologyExpats (divided by what country they are from originally)Users who belong to a credit union, national bank or regional bankUsers who investor (divided by investment type)Number of credit linesUsers who are active credit card usersCredit card typeUsers who have a debit cardUsers who carry a balance on their credit cardUsers who listen to the radioPreference in TV showsUsers who use a mobile device (divided by what brand they use)Internet connection typeUsers who recently acquired a smartphone or tabletUsers who access the Internet through a smartphone or tabletUsers who use couponsTypes of clothing user’s household buysTime of year user’s household shops mostUsers who are “heavy” buyers of beer, wine or spiritsUsers who buy groceries (and what kinds)Users who buy beauty productsUsers who buy allergy medications, cough/cold medications, pain relief products, and over-the-counter medsUsers who spend money on household productsUsers who spend money on products for kids or pets, and what kinds of petsUsers whose household makes more purchases than is averageUsers who tend to shop online (or off)Types of restaurants user eats atKinds of stores user shops atUsers who are “receptive” to offers from companies offering online auto insurance, higher education or mortgages, and prepaid debit cards/satellite TVLength of time user has lived in houseUsers who are likely to move soonUsers who are interested in the Olympics, fall football, cricket or RamadanUsers who travel frequently, for work or pleasureUsers who commute to workTypes of vacations user tends to go onUsers who recently returned from a tripUsers who recently used a travel appUsers who participate in a timeshare
