Last week, Facebook launched a series of social plugins that third party sites such as CNN and Pandora can install to instantly personalize users’ experiences on their sites. For example, Yelp will display Facebook friends that have joined Yelp on their homepage, and Pandora makes playlist recommendations based on bands you’ve liked on Facebook.
Facebook assures that “None of your information—your name or profile information, what you like, who your friends are, what they have liked, what they recommend—is shared with the sites you visit with a plugin.” Still, many users are cautious and don’t like their personal information spread throughout the web in any form. Fortunately, Facebook lets users fine-tune their privacy settings; they just have to dig a bit to find them. Here’s how to opt-out of Facebook’s “Instant Personalization” features.
Opt Out of Instant Personalization on Specific Sites
When you visit a site that uses Instant Personalization, there will be a bar at the top of the screen letting you know that they are using these features, and giving you the option to opt out. Simply click “No thanks” to opt out of that specific site.
Opt Out of Instant Personalization on All Sites
Instead of having to opt in for Instant Personalization, users are automatically opted in, and must opt out manually. To opt out:
1. Go to your Facebook homepage. Click “Account” in the upper-right hand corner, and then “Privacy Settings” from the drop down menu.
2. On the Privacy Setttings page, click “Applications and Websites.”
3. Click “Edit Settings” next to “Instant Personalization Pilot Program.”
4. Uncheck the checkbox below the explanation of Instant Personalization. It is checked by default.
That’s all it takes to opt-out of all Facebook Instant Personalization features on third party sites! Facebook won’t share your personal information until you opt back into this service.
Opt Out Friends From Sharing Your Information
Even after you opt out of Instant Personalization and sharing your information from third party sites, your friends are still able to share your information via their own profiles. So remember to opt out of this as well.
1. Go back to the “Applications and Websites” privacy settings page and click “Edit Settings” next to “What your friends can share about you.”
2. Uncheck anything you don’t want your friends to be able to share about you with other applications and websites. If you uncheck everything, none of your information will be shared.
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Thank you for sharing this important information with us. God Bless ~ Julia.
make it easy to op out of facebook…