In wake of the recent news of WhatApp sharing our numbers with Facebook, a lot of WhatApp users have a new privacy concern.
Why are Whatsapp and Facebook sharing data?
This will allow Facebook to connect you to friends whose number you have saved but are still not on your Facebook friend list. This will be useful in terms of business contacts who can contact you directly e.g. banks can contact you on Facebook if they find any suspicious activity in your account and airlines can contact you related to changes in flight schedules.
But, there is also an issue with this feature. You will be receiving ads on your WhatsApp. One of the best features of WhatsApp was its advert-free nature and that was why people liked using it despite the lack of video calls.
Don’t worry, there is a solution to that. There are two ways you can ensure that Facebook does not get your information from WhatsApp:
How to Opt out of Data-Sharing by WhatsApp:
- Open WhatApp. If it has updated recently, you will get a pop-up that says: “Terms and Conditions”.
- Click “Read” and scroll down.
- Find the “Share my WhatsApp account information with Facebook to improve my Facebook ads and products experiences” option and un-check it.
Although the Terms and Conditions state that chats and other info will remain private, it is so for the time being only. Soon other info will be shared with Facebook too.
I Have Already Agreed to the Updated Terms and Conditions. What Now?
- Tap the three white dots you can see at the top right corner of WhatsApp.
- Go to Settings > Account.
- Find “Share my account info” and uncheck it.
For this method, you have to be quick. You must change these settings within 30 days of accepting the updated terms and conditions. Let us know if it worked for you and if you need further help!