Facebook collects a tremendous amount of data on its users, including information on browsing history and search queries. This data helps Facebook target ads and recommend content to users. But does Facebook make your full search history visible to other users? Let’s take a look at what information Facebook collects and how it uses and shares that data.
What search data does Facebook collect?
Whenever you search for something on Facebook, that query gets added to your search history that only you can see. Facebook says this search history helps them personalize your experience on Facebook by showing you more relevant content.
In addition, Facebook also collects data on searches and activity that happens outside of Facebook through its extensive network of trackers. These trackers, which can take the form of cookies, pixels, and SDKs, are embedded on millions of websites and apps. They report back information to Facebook on your activity whenever you visit sites or use apps that have a Facebook tracker.
Specifically, Facebook receives data on searches conducted on sites like Google and Amazon as well as searches done within apps and browser search bars. They are able to associate this activity back to specific Facebook user profiles due to unique identifiers in the trackers.
What does Facebook do with your search data?
Facebook uses the search query data in several ways:
- To personalize the ads and content you see on Facebook
- To improve their ad targeting capabilities overall
- To build out consumer profiles tied to emails or phone numbers that can be matched back to Facebook accounts
- To analyze trends and aggregate search patterns across demographics
By understanding what users are searching for both on and off of Facebook, the company can better tailor the experience on its platform. For example, if you are searching for vegetarian recipes on Google, Facebook can use that signal to show you more vegetarian-related content and ads once you are back on their platform.
Is your full search history visible to others?
The short answer is no – the full search history tracked by Facebook is not directly visible to other users. However, some aspects of your activity and interests might be indirectly conveyed through content Facebook shows you.
Here are a few key points on how search history is shared:
- Your search history that Facebook collects is linked to your account profile, but it is not a feature that you or others can browse through.
- Facebook does use search queries to customize the News Feed. So if you search for a topic a lot, related content might be more likely to show up, indirectly indicating an interest.
- Facebook claims that it does not share individualized search query data with advertisers. But advertisers can target broad interest categories that may be informed by search patterns.
- Facebook does provide overall search analytics to websites that use its analytics tools. But this is aggregate data and not tied to individuals.
So in summary – the full search history Facebook collects is not directly visible to other users or advertisers, but aspects of it may indirectly influence the content you see served to you.
How to view and clear your off-Facebook activity
While your Facebook search history is not public, you may still want to review and manage the search and browsing data Facebook has collected about you off of their platform:
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Your Facebook Information in the Facebook app or website.
- Select “Off-Facebook activity.”
- Review the list of apps, websites, and businesses that have shared your activity with Facebook.
- Click “Clear History” to disconnect this off-Facebook activity from your account.
- Toggle “Future Off-Facebook Activity” to off to prevent further tracking.
Clearing this off-Facebook activity does not delete it from Facebook’s servers – but it does disconnect it from your account profile. Keep in mind Facebook may continue collecting this data in the future even if you turn the setting off.
How to view your on-Facebook search history
To see the search queries you have conducted while logged into Facebook:
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Your Facebook Information.
- Click “View” next to “Search History.”
- Browse through your search queries conducted while logged into Facebook apps and the website.
- Click “Clear History” to erase these searches.
This history represents searches done on Facebook itself, not tracking data from off-Facebook activity.
Steps to limit Facebook search history tracking
If you want to limit Facebook’s collection of your search history both on and off their platform, here are some steps to take:
- Clear your off-Facebook search history and turn off future tracking as described above.
- Clear your Facebook search history.
- Turn on Private Browsing or Incognito Mode in your browser which prevents trackers from recording your activity.
- Use the Facebook app less and access Facebook from your browser where blocking trackers is easier.
- Install tracker and ad blocking browser extensions like uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger which will block many Facebook trackers.
- Limit use of apps with Facebook SDKs and pixels as much as possible.
While these steps can help, Facebook will likely continue receiving some signals about your activity just due to the vast reach of its tracking infrastructure. But cutting back on places where their trackers are allowed can minimize the extent of search data they collect about you.
Conclusion
Facebook stops short of making your full search history visible to other users or openly sharing individualized search data. However, due to extensive tracking off Facebook and personalized curation on their platform, some of your search interests will be reflected in the ads and content you see. If having that data tied back to your account profile concerns you, regularly clearing tracked search history and limiting Facebook’s tracking reach are some of the only ways to control it.