Meet ‘Link History,’ Facebook’s new way to track the websites you visit

Facebook recently rolled out a new Link History" setting that creates a special repository of all the links you click on in the Facebook mobile app. You can opt out if you're proactive, but the company is pushing Link History on users, and the data is used for targeted ads. As lawmakers introduce tech regulations and Apple and Google beef up privacy restrictions, Meta is doubling down and searching for new ways to preserve its data harvesting empire.

The company pitches Link History as a useful tool for consumers with your browsing activity saved in one place," rather than another way to keep tabs on your behavior. With the new setting you'll never lose a link again," Facebook says in a pop-up encouraging users to consent to the new tracking method. The company goes on to mention that When you allow link history, we may use your information to improve your ads across Meta technologies." The app keeps the toggle switched on in the pop-up, steering users towards accepting Link History unless they take the time to look carefully.

Thomas Germain at Gizmodo

As more and more people in the technology press who used to be against Facebook have changed their tune since the launch of Facebook's Threads - the tech press needs eyeballs in one place for ad revenue, and with Twitter effectively dead, Threads is its replacement - it's easy to forget just what a sleazy, slimy, and disgusting company Facebook really is.