Viewing and Changing Your Facebook Privacy Settings

In the wake of the latest incident with Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, many Facebook users might be concerned about how their data is being used by Facebook and other parties.

Below are some things, other than deleting your account, that you can do to protect your data in Facebook. These settings can help you make sure you are sharing what you want with who you want.

Facebook’s Privacy Settings enable you to manage your data and your profile. (Note:  Facebook automatically makes your name, profile picture, cover photos, and your gender public information. Your profile picture will be visible to anyone, even those without a Facebook account.)

You may check if your Facebook account was specifically accessed by Cambridge Analytica by going to this Facebook page.

Please note that UIS does not officially support Facebook. The information below is provided as a guide so you can make the most informed decisions, and take action, about the level of privacy you want to set for your data.

Finding out which 3rd party apps can access your data

Apps you log into with your Facebook credentials can access your Facebook data. If you downloaded a game, such as Candy Crush, or took part in a random quiz—even one from years ago— they may still be able to access to your Facebook data.

  1. Log in to Facebook.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Select Apps and Websites from the left-side navigation menu. You’ll see a list of apps that are accessing your Facebook profile.
  4. Select “view and edit” on an app to see the data that app accesses.
  5. To change the data the app can access, click on the blue check mark circle to the right of the data type so that it is deselected. You can also click Remove App at the bottom of the screen to remove that app entirely from accessing your Facebook data.

Limiting who can see your posts

This setting allows you to limit who can view your future posts. (See “Limiting the audience for posts you’ve shared” to limit who can see your past posts).

  1. Log in to Facebook.
  2. Click on the down-pointing arrow located at the upper right-hand part of your screen. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Privacy. Under the section Your Activity, click Who can see your future posts?
  4. Click on the drop-down menu to display the options for who you want to see your posts. Friends is selected by default, but there are other options you can choose from that provide a higher level of restriction.
  5. Click Close when you’re done.

Limiting the audience for posts you’ve shared

 This setting allows you to limit who can see any past posts you’ve shared on your timeline.

  1. Log in to Facebook.
  2. Click on the down-pointing arrow located at the upper right-hand part of your screen. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Privacy.
  4. Under the section Your Activity, look for Limit the audience for posts you’ve shared, and then click the link Limit Past Posts.
  5. Click on the Limit Past Posts button to confirm.
  6. Click Close when you’re done.

Limiting who can send youR friend requests

  1. Log in to Facebook.
  2. Click on the down-pointing arrow located at the upper right-hand part of your screen. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Privacy.
  4. In the section How People Find and Contact You, click on the Edit link next to Who can send you friend requests?.
  5. Click on the down-pointing arrow next to Everyone, and then select Friends of friends.
  6. Click Close when you’re done.

Limiting who can see your friends list

  1. In the section How People Find and Contact You, click on the Edit link next to Who can see your friends list?.
  2. Click on the down-pointing arrow next to Public, and then select the desired option. You can elect to have only friends see your friends list, or you can customize who can (and cannot) see your friends list.  
  3. Click Close when you’re done.

Limiting who can look you up using your email address

  1. Log in to Facebook.
  2. Click on the down-pointing arrow located at the upper right-hand part of your screen. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Privacy.
  4. In the section, How People Find and Contact You, click on the Edit link next to Who can look you up using the email address you provided?.
  5. Click on the down-pointing arrow next to Everyone, and then select either Friends or Friends of friends.
  6. Click Close when you’re done.

 
Limiting who can look you up using your phone number

  1. Log in to Facebook.
  2. Click on the down-pointing arrow located at the upper right-hand part of your screen. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Privacy.
  4. In the section, How People Find and Contact You, click on the Edit link next to Who can look you up using the phone number you provided?.
  5. Click on the down-pointing arrow next to Everyone, and then select either Friends or Friends of friends.
  6. Click Close when you’re done.

Disallowing search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile

By default, this option is set to allow outside search engines to link to your profile. You can choose to no longer allow this.

  1. Log in to Facebook.
  2. Click on the down-pointing arrow located at the upper right-hand part of your screen. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Privacy.
  4. In the section, How People Find and Contact You, click on the Edit link next to Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?.
  5. Click on the check mark next to the option Allow search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile so that this option is deselected. In the pop-up confirmation, click Turn off.  
  6. Click Close when you’re done.

 
Editing the privacy and settings for my apps and games

  1. To review the apps and websites you’ve logged into with Facebook:
  2. Click on the down-pointing arrow located at the upper right-hand part of your screen. Click Settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Apps and Websites on the left side.
  4. Filter between Active, Expired or Removed at the top, or search for a specific app or Web site using the search bar to the right.
  5. To remove an app or website, select the app or website then click Remove > Remove.

If an app or Web site is:

  • Active:  You’ve recently logged into these apps or Web sites and they can currently request the info you choose to share with them at any time.
     
  • Expired:  You’ve logged into these apps and websites with Facebook, but it appears you haven’t been active for more than 90 days. They may still have access to info you previously shared, but their ability to make additional requests for private information has expired.
     
  • Removed:  These are apps and Web sites you removed from your account since 2015. They may still have access to info you previously shared, but can’t make additional requests for private information.

Note:  Keep in mind that app and Web site developers may still have access to the data you previously shared. You will have to contact the app or Web site developer directly for more information.