PAT HARRISON MAY 15, 2022 2 MIN READ
Facebook services like Nearby Friends and Weather Alerts are being trimmed by Meta, the company behind the social network. As you can see, these services all revolve around location tracking. In addition to making the blue app lighter, this new adjustment will make the platform more user-friendly when it comes to protecting their privacy. When Facebook’s location-based services expire on May 31, 2022, all the data they’ve acquired will be wiped from their servers.
So, here is what you must know and do regarding the new Facebook update.
What this means for you: Facebook is getting lighter by removing some location data and functionality.
Location-based Facebook features with “low usage,” such as Weather Alerts and Nearby Friends, will be removed from the social networking app. Since the beginning of location-based features, the platform has had these services, as well as location history and background location.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his team have chosen to delete the services because they aren’t widely used and could pose a privacy risk to its users.
As a result, on May 31, 2022, the above services will be withdrawn from Facebook. Previously shared location data will likewise be removed from the company’s servers on August 1, 2022. Download and save this information as soon as possible, before the August 1 deadline, so that you don’t lose it.
Facebook said it will continue to gather users’ location data for other purposes outlined in its Data Policy even though these features are particularly powered by location data. Ads and posts with check-ins, Facebook Events, and more are all examples of how location data is still used.
While Meta is no longer collecting location data, it still requires it for targeted ads and check-ins, as well as other activities.