Facebook collects a lot of data about its users, including those who access Facebook on their iPhones. This data is used by Facebook to target ads, make product suggestions, and more. While some data sharing can be useful, many iPhone users want more control over their privacy. The good news is that with the right settings adjusted, you can limit how much of your iPhone data gets back to Facebook.
How Facebook Gathers Data from iPhones
Facebook gathers data from iPhone users in a few key ways:
- The Facebook app – Any data you input or share via the Facebook app can be accessed by Facebook.
- Facebook Pixel – Many websites and apps use Facebook Pixel, which tracks your activity to target ads and optimize Facebook campaigns.
- Facebook SDK – SDK stands for Software Development Kit. If an app uses a Facebook SDK, some of your data when using that app can be sent back to Facebook.
- Location Services – Facebook accesses your location data if you have enabled location access for the Facebook app.
- Device Information – Data like your device type, operating system, IP address, and more can be collected by Facebook for identification purposes.
Through these methods (and others), Facebook can gather a lot of information about you and your iPhone usage if you don’t limit data sharing.
Adjust iPhone Privacy Settings
Your iPhone has robust privacy settings that allow you to limit Facebook’s data access. Here are some key settings to adjust:
Limit Ad Tracking
Go to Settings > Privacy > Advertising and toggle on “Limit Ad Tracking.” This signals to advertisers not to use your data for targeted ads. Since Facebook’s business model relies heavily on targeted advertising, turning this on will limit their data collection from your device activity outside of their app.
Disable Location Access
Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Under Location Services, choose Facebook and select “Never” to disable Facebook’s access to your location data. Without your location info, Facebook will have a harder time targeting location-based ads.
Disable Access to Photos
Go to Settings > Privacy > Photos. Make sure Facebook does not have access to your photo library. Facebook scans your photos for recognizable faces and objects to improve ad targeting. Taking away access shuts off this data flow.
Turn Off Background App Refresh
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle it off. This stops apps from being able to refresh their content and access data while running in the background when you aren’t using them. Cutting off this background access will further limit how much data Facebook can obtain from your iPhone habits.
Disable Data Use for Facebook
Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Facebook. Disable the options for using cellular data, which will stop Facebook from being able to access data when connected to a cellular network rather than WiFi. This limits the amount of network data Facebook can collect.
Adjust Facebook App Settings
There are also some key settings within the Facebook app that you can adjust to optimize your privacy:
Disable Location Services
In the Facebook app, go to More (Menu) > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Location. Turn off location services for the app here as well.
Limit Ad Topics Used
In the Facebook app, go to More (Menu) > Settings & Privacy > Ad Preferences > Ad Settings. Here you can delete interests to limit what topics Facebook can target ads with.
Turn Off Face Recognition
In the Facebook app, go to More (Menu) > Settings & Privacy > Face Recognition. Toggle off the setting here to prevent Facebook from using face recognition technology on your photos and suggesting tags.
Disable Contact Syncing
In the Facebook app, go to More (Menu) > Settings & Privacy > Contact Uploading. Turn this off so Facebook cannot access your contacts.
Turn Off App Tracking Transparency
In the Facebook app, go to More (Menu) > Settings & Privacy > App Tracking Transparency. Disable Allow Apps and Websites to Request to Track here.
Be Selective in Sharing Data
Beyond adjusting your settings, you can also be selective about what information you actively put into Facebook to limit how much they can collect:
- Don’t fill out extensive personal details in your profile info
- Be wary of connecting third-party apps through Facebook Login
- Don’t tag locations on posts and photos
- Don’t enable camera/microphone access unless needed for a specific feature
- Avoid taking surveys, quizzes and other interactive content that mines your data
The less data you volunteer directly via the app and your account activity, the less Facebook has to work with.
Limit Time Spent on Facebook
One straightforward way to allow less data collection is to simply use Facebook less. The more time you spend in the app, the more opportunity Facebook has to gather data through your usage, engagement, clicks, and more.
Delete Facebook off your home screen to make it less convenient to access. Set limits on usage time through iOS Screen Time controls. The less time you spend scrolling Facebook, the smaller the data trail you leave.
Use a VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your web traffic and masks details like your IP address and location. This makes it harder for Facebook to attribute data to your specific device and identity. Research trustworthy VPN providers and route your traffic through encrypted channels whenever possible.
Alternative Social Apps
If you are looking to move away from Facebook more completely, consider alternative social apps that focus more on privacy:
- Signal – Encrypted messaging and calling
- Telegram – Secure messaging with enhanced privacy options
- DuckDuckGo – Search engine that doesn’t track users
- ProtonMail – Encrypted, private email accounts
Leaving Facebook for social apps that align better with your privacy priorities will naturally limit how much of your data gets back to them.
Conclusion
Facebook makes limiting your data sharing challenging by design – their business model depends on gathering vast amounts of user data for targeting ads. However, with the right privacy settings, selective sharing habits, and alternative social apps, you can cut down on the iPhone data that Facebook collects and uses. Protecting your privacy does require vigilance, but taking these steps will keep more of your personal data away from Facebook’s databases.