Unless you have been living under a rock you would know by now that Facebook is under severe scrutiny because of the way a data firm called Cambridge Analytica has been misusing user data from the social network. The recent data breach has stormed the politics of many countries. Mark Zuckerberg may have done away with his crocodile tears but the world is not convinced that Facebook was not a part of the conspiracy.
Well, I believe that the movement will soon die out. It happened when Snowden reported about PRISM. So if you are worried about sharing your Facebook data to both Facebook and third parties, there are right about three ways to go about from stopping Facebook from using your data for whatever purposes.
One, you take the whole Cambridge Analytica incident lightly and simply modify your privacy settings on the social network because you just can’t let go of Facebook. Two, you delete your profile entirely, wiping yourself from Facebook’s servers. Or three, deactivate your profile and go on a Facebook sabbatical, in the hopes that the social network will find a way out and you are ready to forgive it for all of its mistakes.
“This may sound weird, but is there any way to back up my Facebook data?”
Yes, there is. Turns out, Facebook does have a backup button that will let you download almost everything you have been sharing on the social network and “some more”. Simply hit the down arrow button at the top of your profile page, hit Setting > General Account Settings > Download a copy of your Facebook data > Start my archive.
So what does it let you download?
A lot! You will have to be on a PC or laptop when you do the same.
This would include your Timeline information, shared posts, photos, video and more. As an added bonus Facebook will also throw in the kitchen sink by giving you data about the ads you have clicked on, the IP addresses you have logged on from and plenty more stuff that you would normally not be able to access using your standard Facebook login and password. The data also includes those searches you made on Facebook so yes, Facebook does track and save everything about you once you log in.
Never mind friends. The billion-dollar firm may have incurred losses due to the CA row. But it will sustain as it tried to med its image in the last few days. Currently, we don't have a susbstitute to Facebook. But I think this is the last chance for Facebook to mend its way. Else another such incident, FB is gone foreover.