Users in this region will soon be able to unlink their Instagram, Facebook, and other accounts, thanks to Meta.
In accordance with the European Union’s (EU) Digital Market Act (DMA), Meta announced on Monday that users can disconnect their Instagram and Facebook accounts and other services.
The Mark Zuckerberg-led company said it will offer people using Instagram and Facebook in the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland more choice to use its services and features when the DMA comes into force in March.
The changes mean that EU users can use Meta’s services without their data being shared between them.
People who have already chosen to link their Instagram and Facebook accounts can continue to link their accounts so that their data is used across their Instagram and Facebook accounts.
“They can also manage their Instagram and Facebook accounts separately so that their data is no longer shared across accounts,” said Tim Lamb, Meta’s director of competition and regulation.
Facebook Messenger users can choose whether they want to continue using Facebook Messenger with their Facebook account or whether they want to create a separate new Messenger account.
People who choose to create a new Messenger account without their Facebook information will be able to use Messenger’s core service offering, such as private messaging and chat, voice and video calling, Lamb said.
Users of Facebook Marketplace can choose a Marketplace experience that uses their Facebook data or not.
“The current Marketplace experience will remain for people who choose to use their Facebook information for their Marketplace experience. People who choose not to use their Facebook information for their Marketplace experience will still be able to browse listings and buy and sell products,” the company said.
Over the next few weeks, people will receive notifications informing them of their ability to choose whether they want to share information between metaservices.
People who play games on Facebook can choose a game experience that uses their Facebook data or an experience without their Facebook data.
“People in the EU, EEA and Switzerland can also use Instagram and Facebook for free with ads or subscribe to stop seeing ads,” the company said.
If people opt out to stop seeing ads, their information will not be used for ads. This choice came into force in November of last year.
The goal of the DMA Act is to promote competition and fairness in the digital market.
“We are committed to continuing to work hard to ensure Meta’s products in the EU are DMA compliant and add value to people,” the company said.
