How To Upload Downloaded Information From Facebook

LOS ANGELES — Similar many, I downloaded the data that Facebook compiled about me over the years, and frankly, it was chilling.

I love the social network for showing off my latest photos, staying in contact with erstwhile friends and catching upwardly on the latest news.

Simply to become those features, Facebook kept:

— Location info of all my contacts. This happened when I joined and Facebook asked if I wanted to connect with other friends by importing my contacts from my computer, which happened to have their telephone numbers and sometimes addresses. Facebook has lived with this info since I joined in 2007.

— Whatsoever restaurant or aerodrome where I've "checked in."

— The IP address of everywhere I've ever logged into Facebook.

— My (estimated past Facebook) political and religious views, despite my posts that focus on iii areas: photography, work (the latest articles, podcasts and videos) and, occasionally, family unit.

— All my searches on Facebook over the years, the names of my followers and facial recognition of me and my friends.

Whoa!

Later on the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which an app programmer was able to sell personal data to a research firm that said it helped Donald Trump win the election, Facebook apologized. It says it has tightened its policies on what data tin can cease upwards with app developers since that data leak happened. Additionally, it volition be more transparent most the data it collects, the company vows.

Meanwhile, it volition whorl back some of the advert-targeting tools that take long been available to data brokers.

Desire to know what Facebook has on you? Download the information. Merely go to the Settings department of Facebook (the arrow side by side to the question mark, summit correct) and click on "download my information" at the bottom of the folio called "General Account Settings." So you'll brand your request and await Facebook'southward compiling of your data, which is delivered via an e-mail link. If you've been on Facebook for many years, wait the link to have a while.

Once the file arrives, double-click to open up the "index.htm" file in an Internet browser, and look it over.

Despite the years of data Facebook has nerveless, downloading them won't require a separate difficult drive for giant files. About are text based, and thus, tiny files.

Facebook's list of Jefferson Graham's downloaded apps

As I did, you'll jump over the obvious, such as the names of your Facebook friends, which are listed already on the social network, forth with your posts, photos, etc.

Where information technology gets weird is in the phone numbers — why does Facebook have them?

Separately Facebook has been collecting information on calls and text messages from Android devices, but the social network defended itself by maxim it sought permission to practise so. It was sold primarily as a feature for Facebook Messenger to help "you lot detect and stay continued with the people you care about," Facebook said.

Meanwhile, you don't need to download the file to find out which advertisers accept targeted yous and have your personal data, including what your religious and political persuasions are.

Facebook's listing of your personal information, which it uses for advertising purposes

Again, in the Settings section in Facebook, head to the Ads section by clicking on "Ads" in the left menu.

Here you lot tin can try and play havoc with Facebook's algorithm by deleting every bit many of the assumptions that Facebook has come up up with. Political and religious were showtime to go for me, although the others seem pretty tame, such as male friends with birthdays within seven days.

After a few more clicks, I found out which advertisers had my info. The mag Vanity Fair, which I love only don't subscribe to, has the goods on me, along with Dollar Rent a Motorcar and Uber, which I do use. Facebook said these companies had "your contact info" but didn't spell out how extensive that was — only e-mail or phone number and address as well? (Nosotros reached out to Facebook to ask, and are pending an answer.)

Facebook wants to create ads for you based on websites and apps you visit.

One section that definitely is worth clicking "no" to: the advertising settings where Facebook asks if it tin can create ads for you based on the websites and apps you visit.

Yous could fence that targeted ads make for a better Net feel. I'm followed around everywhere I surf with ads for cameras and guitars because Facebook knows I honey them, but, hey, if I want to purchase a camera, I know where to go.

The download your information tab in Facebook

Jeremiah Owyang, an analyst with Kaleido Insights, suggests turning off as many of the features as possible on Facebook. "The less information yous give, the more privacy you'll accept," he says.

Let'due south be real — you can click every button, and Facebook will yet notice a manner to go on tracking you. But it tin can track less.

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Follow United states of america TODAY'southward Jefferson Graham on Twitter, @jeffersongraham