We all love using Facebook to stay connected, but in 2026, the app has become a data-hungry machine. With the new "Meta AI" integration, Facebook is collecting more data than ever before to train its algorithms.
Did you know that Facebook tracks what you buy on Amazon or which news sites you visit? If you value your privacy (and your phone's battery life), you need to change these default settings today. Here is the Mobile Sathi guide to securing your account.
1. Off-Facebook Activity (The 'Spy' Setting)
Most users don't know this exists. Facebook tracks what you do outside of the app to show you targeted ads.
- Why turn it off: It stops Meta from linking your browsing history (banking apps, shopping sites) to your social profile.
- How to fix: Go to Settings > Your Information > Off-Facebook Activity > Disconnect Future Activity.
2. AI Voice Data Collection
In the 2026 update, Meta introduced "Voice Samples" to improve its AI.
- The Risk: While Meta claims it's anonymized, do you really want your voice snippets stored on their servers?
- Action: Check Settings > Audience and Visibility > Media > Voice Data Collection and toggle it OFF.
3. Location History (Background Tracking)
Does Facebook need to know where you are 24/7? No.
- Why turn it off: This is a major battery drainer and a privacy risk.
- Action: Go to your phone's App Settings > Facebook > Permissions and set Location to "While Using App Only" or "Never".
4. Facial Recognition for AI Tagging
The new algorithm uses advanced AI to scan photos and videos to suggest tags.
- The Issue: If you don't want your face to be used to train facial recognition models, disable this.
- How to fix: Go to Settings > Profile and Tagging > Face Recognition and select "No".
5. Personalized Ads (The Creepy Factor)
Tired of talking about "Shoes" and seeing a Shoe ad 5 minutes later?
- Action: Go to Settings > Ads > Ad Preferences. You can't turn off ads completely, but you can turn off "Data from partners," which stops them from using third-party data to target you.
📱 Mobile Sathi Verdict
"Privacy in 2026 is a luxury, but these settings give you some control back.
Our Take: The most critical setting here is 'Off-Facebook Activity'. It is invasive and unnecessary for the average user. Turning it off stops the feeling that the app is 'listening' to you.
Final Word: Take 5 minutes today to clean up your digital footprint. Your data belongs to you, not the algorithm."