Although WhatsApp is useful for keeping in touch with friends and family, its privacy policies can be a real headache. Therefore, before agreeing to anything, it is best to read the terms and conditions to avoid problems in the future.
However, if you have inadvertently agreed to the terms, do not worry. In this guide, we will show you how to prevent WhatsApp from sharing your data with Facebook and how to stop Facebook from collecting the phone number associated with your WhatsApp account for advertising or tracking purposes.
How to prevent WhatsApp from sharing your data with Facebook
Changes to WhatsApp's privacy policiesAlthough WhatsApp and Facebook are closely linked, some users prefer to maintain their privacy and prevent their data from being shared between the two platforms. However, nowadays, this is impossible to do.
In 2016, the platform announced it would start to share your phone number and other account data with Facebook. This was done to improve its advertising systems and offer more customized ads to its users.
In addition to that, the system stipulated a 30-day deadline for users to opt out of sharing their data. However, this option is no longer available. In other words, you have automatically consented to share your WhatsApp data with Facebook when you installed WhatsApp on your mobile device.
How to prevent Facebook from having your WhatsApp number
The only way to prevent Facebook from having your WhatsApp number is for you to create an account without linking your phone number. To do this, you can use your email. Although this is no guarantee that the platform will not collect your number eventually, it is a good starting point to maintain a bit more privacy.
However, if you want to guarantee Facebook cannot access your WhatsApp number, you must delete your Facebook account, as this is the only definitive solution. By doing so, you will sever any link between the two platforms and prevent your data from being shared between them. It might look like a drastic decision, but if you value your privacy and do not want your data to be shared, this is the best option.