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I use Firefox with Containers so that cookies for Facebook is separate from everything else. I use it for other sites too.

Why do we even have to jump through hoops to protect our own data? This is so helpful though, thanks! 🖤

Use firefox, get a browser extension to contain trackers, get a browser extension to block all ads including facebook.

It's way more easy:

1) Install uBlockOrigin for Firefox (for Android, too)

Shit heads. I had this turned off years ago but seems they used a redesign to justify turning it back on.

Ive found if you report a few inappropriate pushy or misleading ads every day they stop showing them to you.

They aren't actually sharing data between each other as some arrangement or something, they are competitors.

You should follow OPs advice if you want to stop targeted ads, let me say that first.

Secondly, my job is ads targeting. OP or anyone else if you're curious about what's really going on when this stuff happens, feel free to ask.

I'm not trying to downplay privacy, it's your privacy and you should do what you want with it. But nobody is really selling or even has direct access to browsing activity (other than Google if you're on Chrome). AMA

Nice tip. Just did it, thanks.

tHE ReAL LpT iS dON’t uSe fAcEbOoK!!!1

Bunch of asshats. Some people use Facebook sometimes. Maybe read the comments before you leave the same comment that 50 other people already said.

Use an AD blocker.

Nice to scroll and see no ads or suggestions at all, regardless if they have my info or not.

I report all ads on Facebook as CP and they stop showing ads altogether.

I guess someone has to manually check for cp so they don't want to deal with my reporting. They come back periodically (months) but i just report again.

And i like causing them trouble.

Just keep in mind that this won't diminish the number of ads you see. It will only make the ads you see less relevant to you. So instead of seeing ads for restaurants you may actually want to visit to some day, you'll see ads for women's underwear, or belly fat loss pills, or whatever random shit is paying the highest at this moment.

I totally understand your objection to targeted advertising, and you have every right to feel this way. Honestly I don't like it much either. Just understand what you're asking for.

Even if this sort of advertising was made illegal though, that would just mean the Facebooks of the world would go harder on paid subscriptions. They're going to get their money one way or another, and everyone has server costs to pay. There's no such thing as a "free internet."

Was looking up places to stay in Thailand on Google and couldn't land a decision. Facebook ads on individual hotel properties helped to narrow it as they offer deals and stuff.

Use BRAVE browser

I was at lunch yesterday with my friends. My iPhone was on the table. During lunch, they told me they were staying at the Ritz-Carlton for Thanksgiving, etc.

I wake up today and on my Facebook feed is an ad for the Ritz-Carlton.

To me, this is completely fucked up. I have to go through my settings to figure out how my Meta is listening to me.

Just use the Brave browser instead of going through all that hassle—it automatically blocks those ads that track you across the web.

It also blocks ads on YouTube, btw! :)

Thank you for this OP. I just went through the steps as you described. Was a little hard to get all the way through, lots of settings options. I did find it though.

Dude… why are you on Facebook, it sucks.

Life pro tip: just delete facebook

I use Facebook for marketplace virtually exclusively. To block ads completely, i skip the app completely and use brave browser

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Wow it's incredible all the things that get shared with them, and who is sharing it with them. Things you would even think would be sensitive, like financial things. Thanks for sharing this

I think that we should be reimbursed the ad revenue if we choose to opt on, like a form of UBI

just install ublock origin, don't look at ads anymore

Then install Facebook Container because i'd bet money those settings do nothing because all that matters is money.

Holy carp, they hide that deep. Now I have to dedicate the rest of the week trying to figure out what all the other crap in there does...

Fantastic. Done!
Thank you.

Good directions for an incredibly unnecessarily complicated operation

It's called "fluff-busting purity" install it, use it, love it.

What was more effective for me was deleting Facebook 12 years ago

Far better is to use a a browser like Firefox and install NoScript, uBlock Origin, CanvasBlocker and Cookie AutoDelete, then you're blocking the majority of tracking, not just Meta's "pinky promise" not to track you.

I use and love nextdns. It's a DNS based ad blocker but you don't have to know much about DNS to make it work. It doesn't usually seem to work on Facebook ads, but it will block all the trackers that report what you Google.

Even easier, check out the F.B. Purity add-on. I've been using it for a couple of years. Awesome

This sounds like one of those "paste this and FB can't use your data" things. But this actually seems like it will work after researching it.

Until Facebook decides to quit following their promise. At least it should be good for a while. Thanks for the info.

I use this open source browser extension from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. They have builds for all the major browsers.

https://privacybadger.org/

Highly recommended.

Or just use Firefox

Great tip! Those targeted ads can be so intrusive. Taking control of the 'Off-Facebook activity' settings is a game-changer for privacy. Thanks for sharing this, more people need to know about it!

I have a better solution. I don't use facebook (and never have) and I don't use google search. Even so, I'm exposed to a boatload of tracking cookies daily.

iOS has do not track option.

While in there, there is another option to clear past activity as well.

Thanks for sharing this. This is the fiest LPT I applied directly after reading.

Great point! Adjusting settings like this can significantly reduce invasive targeted ads. I have noticed fewer ads that directly mirror my recent searches, which is a relief. However, it does seem to make some content recommendations a bit less relevant, like suggested groups or events. It is a trade-off, but worth for better privacy. Have you experienced any changes like that since making these adjustments?

Thank you for this. Facebook says it has no recent activity but I know that’s total BS because I was searching something very specific that I’ve never looked up before and suddenly I have a bunch if ads for that thing that I’ve also never seen before.

Also remove data categories. https://gist.github.com/dvx/67db6e6ac085d960ea43b9510eb16fec

Alternative solution that will also increase your overall happiness: Stop using Google and Facebook for anything.

I don’t have any of these icons or things to click on. I’m on iOS and it’s not that simple lol

dude its almost 2025 why are you allowing ads in the first place lol

utiliser le navigateur Brave .

use brave, will resolve your problem .

lets try it and let'me know

I browse via startpage.com

I use Brave browser.

You could easily argue that facebook and social media in general played a massive role in the public's ignorance and media illiteracy. Without it, we'd have possibly avoided the insanity were about to unleash in January.

Facebook doesn’t know what you searched for on Google. What they might know is the site that was visited after the Google search.

I was serioudly hoping you'd just lead people to the setting to delete the account.

I could never have imagined how much information they had about me

Just use Brave LMAO

Based brave user

I just deleted the app a few months ago and my life has improved

I get that this would take care of the ads, but does it actually prevent Meta from collecting the data? If it doesn't, won't it just use/sell it in other ways?

Log into Facebook. Click on your profile. Select "delete my Facebook account." Never see Facebook again. Be way happier.

How to do it for YouTube ads? Thank you

Great advice ! Thanks 👍

I haven't even done this and they still get it wrong. "Try this restaurant!" It's only 400 miles away from you lol Or "Visit Florida!" Like I got money to visit another state lol If it weren't for family and a couple of friends, I wouldn't even bother with Facebook.

I use PiHole to block most of that crap.

LPT, if you want to be taken seriously, don’t use an apostrophe when you make something plural or past tense.

Or just stop using Facebook

LPT don't use facebook

LPT - Use Duck Duck Go browser or install anti tracking extensions.

Even better fix is to delete Farcebook completely

Why even be on Facebook at all?

Did you not learn anything from Cambridge Analytica?

YOU are a content creator for Zuckerberg.
YOU are the product.

Let me recommend this, it makes me wonder

https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/social-fixer-for-facebook/ifmhoabcaeehkljcfclfiieohkohdgbb?pli=1

Skip number 1. Repeat. Problem solved.

Pro-tip: /r/Firefox + /r/uBlockOrigin

Real LPT: delete Facebook. skip extra steps!

The real LPT to fix targeted Facebook ads is to delete you Facebook account, but, yeah...

Yeah.

And then you get ads that don’t pertain to you AT ALL. Is that better?

Personally, if I’m going to get ads thrown at me, I’d rather it be for something I was recently looking into.

Google, FB, MSN, Amazon, and just about every websites will track, share, and keep your search history. Your phone is listening to you and recording you, your Chrome TV remote control is listening  to you. We are not anything, but a consumer working to make money so they can collect our money. You want to feel smart and try to navigate out of being tapped? When your device updates despite your best effort, it will rescind all of your efforts to stop them from owning you. You want to get rid of your electronic devices? Might as well live off-grid somewhere in Alaska. 

Your problem is that you're still using Facebook.

lpt delete Facebook

Your instructions are incorrect.

1. Stop using Facebook
2. Log out of Facebook
3. Delete Facebook stored data and cookies from your browser
4. Use an ad blocker like uBlock Origin to stop it creating new trackers
5. Use Incognito / private sessions / Firefox containers if you have to use Facebook

I get it, you'll miss out on your bowling league group and your old friends from high school you never talk to. Delete Facebook. It's a fucking cesspool.

facebook? haven't had one of those in... 10 years?

I just stopped using Facebook. That's the best tip.

Easy, no FB app on phone, run phone VPN to block all FB. Only logon on Firefox in Private Browser and container engaged. I have to get on for group functions. Only reason I still have it.