How to Stop Apps From Using Your Facebook Data

After the Cambridge Analytica exposé, Facebook’s use of your personal data to make money is in the spotlight. While it’s common knowledge that Facebook makes money through advertisements, not many people know that the company provides access to an extensive trove of data on you to advertisers and even third-party apps on Facebook. The next time you take a “personality test” quiz, be aware that it could just be a shady operation run by a company looking to influence crucial decisions such as the party you vote into power

This makes your personal data a weapon in elections - or something more mundane as a “buying decision” - and you have every right to stop that from happening. If you want to stop this kind of surveillance entirely, you might want to delete your Facebook account entirely, and perhaps even delete your WhatsApp and Instagram accounts. If that is not an option, then follow these steps to limit how much of your data third-party apps can use.

If you are using the Facebook website on desktop or mobile.

1. Go to Facebook’s app settings page.
2. Below Apps, Websites and Plugins, click Edit.
3. Now click Disable Platform.

If you are using the Facebook app on Android:

1. Open the app and tap the three horizontal lines icon on the top-right.
2. Scroll down and tap Settings & privacy.
3. Tap Account settings.
4. Tap Apps.
5. Tap Platform.
6. Tap Edit.
7. Tap Turn off Platform.

If you are using the Facebook app on iOS:

1. Open the app and tap the three horizontal lines icon at the bottom-right.
2. Scroll down and tap Settings.
3. Tap Account Settings.
4. Scroll down to Apps.
5. Tap Platform.
6. Tap Edit.
7. Tap Turn off Platform.

This will remove all third-party apps from your Facebook profile. Note that this can have an effect on how you use other apps. For instance, if you use Facebook to sign in to apps or websites, this will disable that. You will have to reset your password on all these apps and websites. You will also lose access to any apps on Facebook that you may use.