Facebook has been in the international spotlight lately due to recent events regarding data. However, it wants to make one thing clear: it is not the only company doing it.
On Monday, the platform published an explainer post about how it collects your data through its services even when you're not using Facebook.
The publication clarifies the impact of Facebook plugins, which allow users to like or share content on third-party websites, as well as the impact of Facebook's login tool, i.e. when you use your login credentials to log in to websites or apps. Other corresponding services related to data collection are Facebook Analytics, as well as its own advertising and measurement tools.
As Facebook reiterates, if you have used a similar service from other internet companies, they have also collected your data.
"Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn all have similar Like and Share buttons to help people share things across the services they use. Google has a popular Analytics provider, while Amazon, Google and Twitter services offer similar login tools," the company says.
“In reality, most websites and apps send the same information to multiple companies every time you visit them.”
Facebook and other companies essentially aggregate this data to better target their ads – the more an advertising company knows about you, the better.
Through plugins and the login feature, the platform collects information about the website you visited as well as information about your browser and device.
Facebook Analytics shows which visitors are using the platform as well as aggregated demographics such as age and gender. The company's Audience Network displays ads from the social networking platform on other websites, unless you don't have a Facebook account.
If you check your Facebook advertising preferences, you will be able to see how this data creates a list related to your profile, as well as the websites you have visited.
Google has a similar dashboard, while Twitter relies on your activity to learn what interests you.
You can turn off personalization with the click of a button on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google's Ad settings dashboard, while on Facebook you can choose to opt out of ads related to the websites and apps you visit.
