It's easy to see why people aren't massive fans of the extreme technological advances that we have seen in the Western world over the past decade. While website such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms have put us more in touch with one another than ever before, they have also compromised our security and privacy.
Think about it for a minute, everything you put online stays online. If someone wants to, they can see where you are/have been, who you know and what you do for a living. Not only this, but they can do it very easily. Just one quick search on Google and all your social media accounts will be pulled up and your life will be on screen for someone to take a look at.
In light of this, it may not come as a surprise that Facebook has a worrying amount of information about you at their fingertips. If you want to know just how much, you can do so in three simple steps.
1. Head to Facebook and select Settings
2. Click ‘Download a copy of your Facebook data’
3. Click ‘Download archive’ and wait for Facebook to email you a copy of your file
The file will show you exactly when you joined Facebook, giving you the specific date and time (to the minute) that you signed up. It will also show you multiple other bits of information about yourself that you more than likely want to forget, including:
Chat - The file will show you a history of the conversations you’ve had on Facebook Chat - you can also access a complete history via your messages inbox.
Check-ins - Facebook remembers all the places you have checked into.
Credit Cards - If you've ever made a purchase through one of Facebook's many apps, it will remember your card details.
Facial Recognition Data - This is a unique number based on a comparison of the photos you’re tagged in. Facebook use this data to help others tag you in all those embarrassing photos.
IP Addresses - A list of IP addresses where you’ve logged into your Facebook account (This won't include all of your historical IP addresses as they get deleted according to a retention cycle).
Phone Numbers - Facebook stores all the phone numbers you’ve added to your account, including verified mobile numbers you’ve added for security purposes.
Political Views - Any information you added to Political Views in the About section of Timeline.
Searches - Searches you’ve made on Facebook (including all those times you have stalked your ex).
So, as you may have guessed already - Facebook knows a hell of a lot about you and they store all that information away. Quite what they need it for, I'm not too sure but, without trying to sound like your grandma, maybe think twice about what you share on social media - you never know who is watching.
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