Users can opt out of the feature, but by default it is enabled, allowing Meta to use collected data for targeted advertising.
Why it's important to us
As digital marketing moves towards a future without cookies and the introduction of increased privacy, the effective but uncertain targeted advertising faces new challenges. Facebook's new feature may well be a shortcut for marketers looking to reach high-value consumers, but the solution may be temporary.
Availability
This feature is being rolled out gradually and may not be available in your location at this time. Meta has not given a specific timeline for when the link history archiving option will be rolled out, but has confirmed that it will be extended to all mobile users globally.
Currently, this feature is exclusive to mobile use and is not available for desktop.
How it works
Link history is a function that keeps track of the web pages you have visited through Facebook's mobile browsers in the last 30 days. If enabled, it stores links you have clicked on within Facebook's mobile browser during this period. It is important to note that links visited in Messenger chats are not included in the link history.
How to turn off Link History
To turn off this feature, follow these steps:
- Select a link inside the Facebook app to launch the Facebook mobile browser.
- Click on the three dots in the lower right corner and select Browser settings.
- To enable the link history, toggle the switch next to "Allow link history" and confirm by pressing "Allow".
- To disable link history, toggle the switch next to “Allow link history” and confirm by tapping “Disallow”.
What Facebook says
A Facebook spokesperson said:
- “You can choose to turn link history on or off at any time. When you turn off link history, we will immediately delete your link history and you will no longer be able to see the links you have visited. Additionally, we will not save your link history or use it to improve your ads across Meta's technologies.”
- "When you turn off link history, it may take up to 90 days for Meta to complete the removal process."
- "When link history is on, we can use information from link history in Facebook's mobile browser to improve your ads across Meta's technologies."
Deep diving. Read Facebook's complete message to get more information.
