Facebook is in damage limitation mode as it looks to move past a 2018 filled with privacy and data scandals. The company is aiming new features at regaining user trust. For example, in January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the network will launch a clear history feature. Now, Facebook says it will be available later in 2019.
At the time, Zuckerberg described the feature as a tool for users to delete interactions with websites and third-parties on Facebook. CFO David Wehner confirmed this week the feature is in development and will arrive at the back end of the year.
Wehner was at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference 2019 in San Francisco when he offered the timeline. He said the delete history tool will give users more control. It may also help rebuild trust as it will make it harder for Facebook to target users with ads.
Facebook has been planning the feature for some time. Indeed, it was discussed directly after the company was embroiled in the privacy scandal surrounding Cambridge Analytica in early 2018.
Delete Everything
Zuckerberg introduced the clear history feature at the company’s F8 conference in May last year. The CEO said clear history would act like a browser history deleting feature, allowing users to clear searching history and cookies.
Furthermore, users will also be given the ability to stop Facebook from storing any history information.
Of course, this will mean having to sign in to services and websites again, but that’s probably not a dealbreaker for most. Indeed, it is a trade most users will probably make to stay away from Facebook’s prying eyes.
