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Facebook's New Privacy Control Tool to Boost User Confidence
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Facebook has been undertaking a number of initiatives to improve privacy and security on its platform and services. These are primarily aimed at improving user engagement, which is crucial for the company’s growth.
The company is rolling out a tool called Off-Facebook Activity, which enables users to better control their privacy. The tool will help users to see apps and websites that share information related to their activities on Facebook.
Moreover, users can opt out of off-Facebook activity tracking or selectively stop certain websites from sending browsing activity to Facebook.
However, this feature will not delete user information from Facebook servers. The data collected will be anonymized and disconnected from individual user accounts.
The company is launching the feature in select geographies including Ireland, South Korea and Spain.
Facebook uses information acquired from third-parties to help advertisers target their campaigns or track off-platform performance of its ads.
However, if users decide to clear Off-Facebook Activity from their accounts, it is expected to reduce the potency of the company’s data for advertisers. This may eventually hurt top-line growth as Facebook derives a significant part of revenues from ads.
The company’s top line is already threatened by privacy laws as suggested by CFO Dave Wehner on the company’s second-quarter earnings call. Management expects revenue growth rates to decline sequentially throughout the rest of 2019 due to “ad targeting-related headwinds.”
Moreover, Facebook faces increasing governmental scrutiny over its privacy practices. The company has been fined $5 billion by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for mishandling user data.
Nevertheless, Facebook’s recent privacy friendly initiatives are noteworthy. The company is working on making its products and services end-to-end encrypted and ephemeral so that user information is not available for long.
The company has launched a feature that helps users remove messages sent on Messenger. Within a 10-minute window, users can ‘unsend’ any message delivered through Messenger, whether it was sent to a single person or to a group chat.
Notably, Facebook-owned WhatsApp already offers a “delete for everyone” feature.
Also, Facebook launched a tool that will help Android users turn off location tracking. Notably, Apple’s (AAPL - Free Report) iOS already offers tools that help users allow, partially allow or totally disallow tracking.
These initiatives are expected to boost user trust and eventually drive engagement across the company’s “Family” of services, which includes Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Currently, Facebook carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Long-term earnings growth rate for Alphabet and Microsoft is pegged at 17.5% and 11%, respectively.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 7 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
Image: Bigstock
Facebook's New Privacy Control Tool to Boost User Confidence
Facebook has been undertaking a number of initiatives to improve privacy and security on its platform and services. These are primarily aimed at improving user engagement, which is crucial for the company’s growth.
The company is rolling out a tool called Off-Facebook Activity, which enables users to better control their privacy. The tool will help users to see apps and websites that share information related to their activities on Facebook.
Moreover, users can opt out of off-Facebook activity tracking or selectively stop certain websites from sending browsing activity to Facebook.
However, this feature will not delete user information from Facebook servers. The data collected will be anonymized and disconnected from individual user accounts.
The company is launching the feature in select geographies including Ireland, South Korea and Spain.
Facebook, Inc. Price and Consensus
Facebook, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Facebook, Inc. Quote
Privacy Initiatives to Help Regain Trust
Facebook uses information acquired from third-parties to help advertisers target their campaigns or track off-platform performance of its ads.
However, if users decide to clear Off-Facebook Activity from their accounts, it is expected to reduce the potency of the company’s data for advertisers. This may eventually hurt top-line growth as Facebook derives a significant part of revenues from ads.
The company’s top line is already threatened by privacy laws as suggested by CFO Dave Wehner on the company’s second-quarter earnings call. Management expects revenue growth rates to decline sequentially throughout the rest of 2019 due to “ad targeting-related headwinds.”
Moreover, Facebook faces increasing governmental scrutiny over its privacy practices. The company has been fined $5 billion by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for mishandling user data.
Nevertheless, Facebook’s recent privacy friendly initiatives are noteworthy. The company is working on making its products and services end-to-end encrypted and ephemeral so that user information is not available for long.
The company has launched a feature that helps users remove messages sent on Messenger. Within a 10-minute window, users can ‘unsend’ any message delivered through Messenger, whether it was sent to a single person or to a group chat.
Notably, Facebook-owned WhatsApp already offers a “delete for everyone” feature.
Also, Facebook launched a tool that will help Android users turn off location tracking. Notably, Apple’s (AAPL - Free Report) iOS already offers tools that help users allow, partially allow or totally disallow tracking.
These initiatives are expected to boost user trust and eventually drive engagement across the company’s “Family” of services, which includes Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Currently, Facebook carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Computer & Technology sector are Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) and Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) , both carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here
Long-term earnings growth rate for Alphabet and Microsoft is pegged at 17.5% and 11%, respectively.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 7 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 7 breakthrough stocks now>>