Facebook is simplifying how you manage your privacy in web apps with a new plugin called Shared Activity and it’s being rolled out today.
To avoid confusion the Shared Activity plugin isn’t something that users have to install. This is a tool that web apps have to implement; similar to the like button. Once implemented, it’s one-click process for the user, and it allows you to manage your privacy settings, even if you aren’t logged in on Facebook.com. And best of all, you don’t have to go through the nonsense privacy settings on your FB profile.
Take this as an example: You were navigating a website that you have signed up to with your Facebook account in the past, and because you are still logged in to the site, you may not want everyone on your Facebook friends list to know your activity. Then what you do here is to click on the Shared Activity plugin that will appear in the bottom-left corner of the page, and click “No one” in the drop-down menu of groups to share with.
In a new article the company says: “The Shared Activity plugin lists a person’s activities published from your app to Facebook including Open Graph activities, Like button stories, and comment plugin activities.”
“For example, when an individual uses a music app, she could modify the privacy settings, through the plugin, for specific song listening activities, without needing to go back to Facebook to control what’s shown. Similarly, if a person, through a travel app, likes a restaurant or reviews a hotel, and decides that these activities should only be viewable to a select group on friends on Facebook, he can control this within the plugin as well.”
If you are in charged of a web app or website, Facebook has published a pages in the developer section where you’ll find documentation that will allow you to personalize the social plugin and grab the code.
Source Facebook via VentureBeat
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].