Step-by-step Guide to Stop Facebook From Using Your WhatsApp Data

Facebook-owned WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy. As per the new policy, WhatsApp will start sharing users’ phone numbers with its parent, allowing for, what the company claims, more relevant advertisements and friend recommendations on the social network. The move is WhatsApp’s first update to its privacy policy since it was acquired by Facebook in 2014.

Facebook Inc’s popular messaging service WhatsApp announced this in a blog post.

In the blog post, the company also said that it will explore ways for businesses to send messages using its platform over the next several months. However, it has promised that it won’t sell or share your number with advertisers

But in case you still not happy and don’t want WhatsApp to share your number with Facebook, you have 30 days to opt out. This means that if you don’t want your phone number to be shared with Facebook, you have a window of 30 days to opt out.

WhatsApp has kept the policy change a bit hidden, but there are two options. Both the options are available for both Android and iOS apps. Here are the two options:

Option 1

Before you tap ‘Agree’ to accept Facebook’s updated ‘Terms of Service and Privacy Policy’, tap Read. You will see a control at the bottom of the screen. If you do not want your account information shared with Facebook, you can ‘uncheck’ the box or ‘toggle’ the control.

Option 2

Once you have agreed to Facebook’s updated ‘Terms of Service and Privacy Policy’, you will have an additional 30 days to make this choice by going to Settings > Account > Share my account info in the app. If you do not want your account information shared with Facebook, you can ‘uncheck’ the box or ‘toggle’ the control.

The company further clarifies that Facebook family of companies will, however, continue to still receive and use this information for other purposes such as improving infrastructure and delivery systems, understanding how its services are used, securing systems, and fighting spam, abuse, or infringement activities.