Ever feel like the internet knows a little too much about you? That’s because it does. If you’re online, you’re part of a massive surveillance economy where Big Tech companies like Meta (owners of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp), X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok make billions by tracking everything you do. Your likes, searches, purchases, and even the websites you visit, are harvested to create detailed profiles about you. Then, advertisers pay top dollar to push ads tailored to your digital footprint. In other words, you are the product.
AI and predictive analytics don’t just sell you stuff, they shape what you see, what you think, and even how you vote. As digital surveillance expands and regulation lags behind, reclaiming control over your personal information isn’t just about privacy, it’s about autonomy.
How to stop Meta from using your data for ads
Meta tracks you beyond Facebook, Threads and Instagram, gathering data from other sites and apps that you use. Shut it down:
Click “Ad preferences.”
Select “Manage info.”
Click “Activity information from ad partners.”
Choose “Review setting.”
Select “No, don’t make my ads more relevant by using this information.”
Click “Confirm."
Meta sells your data so that advertisers can target you elsewhere online. Cut them off:
Go to Ad preferences.
Click “Manage info.”
Select “Ads from ad partners.”
Choose “Don’t show me ads from ad partners.”
Click the “X” button to close out.
Third-party companies share data about you with Meta, creating a web of surveillance. Disconnect it:
Go to Your information and permissions.
Click “Your activity off Meta technologies.”
Select “Manage future activity.”
Choose “Disconnect future activity.”
Click “Continue.”
Click “Disconnect future activity.”
How to stop X (Twitter) from using your data for ads
Log in to your X account.
Click on your profile icon and select “Settings and privacy.”
Navigate to “Privacy and safety.”
Scroll down to “Ad preferences.”
Uncheck the box next to “Personalized ads” to prevent X from using your data for targeted advertising.
Repeat this step with with “Data sharing with business partners” to prevent the sharing of your data with third parties.
How to stop TikTok from using your data for ads
Within “Settings and privacy,” tap “Ads.”
Select “Clear activity.”
Tap “Confirm” to remove data that advertisers have shared with TikTok about your off-platform activities.
The battle for digital privacy isn’t just about turning off a few settings, it’s about reclaiming your autonomy in a world where data is currency. Every action you take to limit Big Tech’s access to your information chips away at their power to manipulate your online experience. Stay informed and make privacy a priority.
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