Today's news of WhatsApp giving in to Facebook's hunger for more data might have annoyed some fans, but there is a way to opt out. Facebook has graciously offered a way for WhatsApp users to choose not to share their account information with the network. If it hadn't, we might have seen a number of angry fans who could have left the platform for the rivals such as Telegram and others.
How to opt out of WhatsApp sharing your information with Facebook
Don't want to get more targeted Facebook ads? For possibly the first time, you are going to actually read the terms and conditions and not just agree to them, if you don't want Facebook to have access to your WhatsApp data. Follow these simple steps to avoid WhatsApp sharing your information with Facebook.
- When presented with the new terms and conditions in the updated WhatsApp app, click on Read and don't agree with them.
- You will now see a checkbox at the bottom of the screen. It will ask you to give your permission to WhatsApp to share your information with Facebook. Uncheck it.
If you do agree to these terms thanks to that force of nature where we can't just seem to click on the read button, WhatsApp is giving you 30 days to revert back. You can uncheck the setting from your account information.
- Go to Settings > Account > Share my account info.
- Uncheck the box.
WhatsApp has shared that "Facebook family of companies will still receive and use this information for other purposes such as improving infrastructure and delivery systems, understanding how our services or theirs are used, securing systems, and fighting spam, abuse, or infringement activities." However, it will not be used to improve Facebook ads and products.
If you are not on Facebook, you can continue to use WhatsApp and there won't be any requirement to set up a Facebook account. Good life.
