Facebook shortened its privacy policy and explained it through an easier-to-read fashion with its new feature, "Privacy Basics," introduced Thursday. The social networking site has also allowed users control over the ads that appear on their site, Baxter Bulletin reported.
The online social media network, which caters to more than 1.35 billion users, has been criticized by users and regulators for its complicated and ever-changing privacy policies. In response, Facebook introduced a new tool called "Privacy Basics."
"Privacy Basics" is new feature that cuts out much of the legal talk and tries to make the site's guidelines easier to understand and more accessible. Through a series of animated and interactive guides and tips, users can more fully understand what they share on the site and how to control it.
"Privacy Basics offers interactive guides to answer the most commonly asked questions about how you can control your information on Facebook," said Erin Egan, Facebook's Chief Privacy Officer, according to Inside Facebook.
"Privacy Basics is the latest step we've taken to help you make sure you're sharing with exactly who you want, including our privacy checkup, reminder for people posting publicly and simplified audience selectors."
Facebook also changed its lengthy terms of use, which it calls data policy, by shortening it and explaining how the site collects user data and the reason why via color coded, interactive subsections, according to USA Today.
Facebook also explained that they regularly track the users' activities, the location of photos, log the chats on Facebook Messenger, what products users have purchased and more, but it is only able to send users marketing communications and find new ways to reinvent the site for its users.
Facebook is also giving users more control over the kinds of ads they see.
"We've heard from some of you that it can be difficult to control the types of ads you see if you use multiple devices and browsers," Egan said.
"You can opt out of seeing ads on Facebook based on the apps and sites you use through the Digital Advertising Alliance. You can also opt out using controls on iOS and Android. When you tell us you don't want to see these types of ads, your decision automatically applies to every device you use to access Facebook."
Users are given until Nov. 20 to test out and comment on "Privacy Basics" and their new data policy, before Facebook rolls out the final version and applies it throughout the website.
