How to Set Your Social Media Privacy Settings to Protect Your Personal and Business Data: Facebook, Linkedin, Google

Protecting your personal data, company information, and user data on social media platforms is essential to get the most out of them without being exploited. There are some challenges involved with comprehensive privacy configuration, such as reduced platform functionality, decreased discoverability, but these are outweighed by the benefits of protecting your data and your user data from improper uses. Privacy-focused organizations like Launchbot find it easier to maintain trust, comply with data protection laws, and demonstrate commitment to ethical data practices.

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Facebook Personal Account Privacy Settings

Profile Information Protection‍

Navigate to your Facebook homepage and click the dropdown arrow in the top-right corner, then select "Settings & Privacy" followed by "Settings." In the left sidebar, click "Privacy" to access your main privacy controls. Under "Your Activity," set "Who can see your future posts" to "Friends" or a custom list rather than "Public." For existing posts, click "Limit the audience for posts you've shared with friends of friends or Public" and select "Limit Past Posts" to retroactively protect previous content.

Contact Information Lockdown‍

In the same Privacy section, navigate to "How people can find and contact you." Set "Who can look you up using the email address you provided" to "Friends" and do the same for phone number lookups. Most importantly, toggle off "Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile" to prevent your Facebook profile from appearing in Google search results.

Location and Tracking Controls‍

Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings → Location. Turn off location services entirely by clicking "Location Services" and selecting "Don't allow location access." This prevents Facebook from tracking your physical movements and building location-based advertising profiles. Additionally, navigate to "Off-Facebook Activity" in the left sidebar and click "Clear History" followed by "Manage Future Activity" to disconnect external website and app data from your Facebook account.

Facebook Business Account Privacy Settings

Page Data Protection‍

Access your Facebook Business Manager at business.facebook.com and select your business account. Navigate to "Business Settings" in the top-right corner, then click "Data Sources" in the left sidebar. Review all connected apps, websites, and offline events, removing any unnecessary integrations that might be sharing customer data inappropriately. Under "People," review admin access and remove anyone who no longer needs business account access.

Audience Insights Limitations‍

In your Facebook Page settings, click "Settings" in the left sidebar, then "Privacy." Set your page visibility to limit who can find your business page in search results if you serve a specific geographic area or client base. This is particularly important for organizations working with vulnerable populations who might need discretion.

Instagram Personal Account Privacy Settings

Account Privacy Fundamentals‍

Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom-right corner, then tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right and select "Settings and Privacy." Tap "Account Privacy" and toggle on "Private Account" to require approval for all new followers. This single setting provides the most comprehensive protection for personal Instagram use.

Story and Content Controls‍

In Settings and Privacy, tap "Privacy" then "Story." Set "Allow sharing" to "Off" to prevent others from sharing your Stories to their own Stories. Under "Hide story and live from," add any contacts you don't want viewing your temporary content. Navigate back to Privacy and select "Comments" to filter inappropriate comments automatically and restrict comments from new accounts.

Instagram Business Account Privacy Settings

Professional Account Data Management

‍If using Instagram for business, avoid switching to a Professional account unless absolutely necessary, as this enables additional data collection. If you must use business features, regularly review your "Account Privacy" settings and limit "Similar account suggestions" under Settings and Privacy → Privacy → Suggested for you.

Third-Party App Review‍

In Settings and Privacy, tap "Accounts Center" then "Your information and permissions." Review all connected apps and websites under "Apps and websites," removing any that aren't essential for your business operations. Pay particular attention to scheduling tools and analytics platforms that may be retaining user interaction data.

Meta Ads Privacy Configuration

Personal Ad Data Controls‍

Access your Facebook Ad Preferences by going to facebook.com/adpreferences or clicking Settings & Privacy → Settings → Ads. Under "Ad Settings," turn off "Ads based on data from partners" and "Ads based on your activity on Facebook Company Products that you see elsewhere." Review and remove interests from "Your interests" that might be based on sensitive personal information.

Business Ad Data Practices‍

In Facebook Business Manager, navigate to Business Settings → Data Sources → Datasets. Review all customer data uploads and ensure you have explicit consent for any email lists or customer information you've uploaded for Custom Audiences. Remove any datasets where consent is questionable or documentation is insufficient.

LinkedIn Personal Account Privacy Settings

Profile Visibility Controls

‍Access Settings & Privacy from your profile dropdown menu and navigate to the Privacy tab. Under "Profile privacy," select "Your profile's public visibility" and choose "Your LinkedIn network" rather than "Public" to maintain your LinkedIn presence while protecting against external search engine indexing. This keeps your profile discoverable within LinkedIn while preventing appearance in Google search results.

Data Usage Limitations‍

Under the Privacy tab in the Settings menu, click "How LinkedIn uses your data" on the left side of the window. Turn off "Research" data usage, limit "Advertising" data collection, and disable "Job seeking preferences" if you're not actively job hunting. These settings prevent LinkedIn from using your professional behavior data for broader research or targeted advertising beyond your immediate networking needs.

LinkedIn Ads Privacy Management

Campaign Data Protection‍

In LinkedIn Campaign Manager, regularly review your matched audiences and remove any uploaded contact lists that lack proper consent documentation. Under "Account Assets" in Campaign Manager, navigate to "Matched Audiences" and delete any customer email lists where you cannot demonstrate explicit opt-in consent for professional advertising contact.

Organic Content DataFor LinkedIn Company Pages, navigate to "Admin tools" in your company page dashboard and review "Page analytics." Limit data sharing with third-party analytics tools and avoid connecting unnecessary marketing automation platforms that might retain professional network interaction data.

Google Personal Privacy Settings

Activity and Location Controls

‍Visit myaccount.google.com and click "Data & Privacy" in the left sidebar. Under "History settings," pause or delete "Web & App Activity," "Location History," and "YouTube History" to prevent Google from building comprehensive behavioral profiles. In "Activity controls," turn off "Include voice and audio recordings" and review your "Ad personalization" settings, removing sensitive interest categories.

Account Security and App Review‍

Navigate to "Security" in your Google Account settings and enable 2-Step Verification for enhanced account protection. Under "Third-party apps with account access," remove any applications you don't actively use or recognize. Pay particular attention to marketing tools, social media schedulers, and analytics platforms that might be accessing more data than necessary.

Google Ads Privacy Configuration

Customer Data Management‍

In Google Ads, navigate to "Data" in the left sidebar and review all uploaded customer lists under "Audience Manager." Remove any customer match audiences where you lack proper consent documentation. Under "Conversions," review your conversion tracking setup and ensure you're not tracking sensitive user behaviors without appropriate privacy notices.

Shared Data Controls‍

Access "Account settings" in Google Ads and review "Data sharing settings." Limit sharing with Google's research and development programs unless specifically required for your advertising objectives. This prevents your customer interaction data from being used for broader Google AI training or product development without explicit business benefit.

Basic Good Practices for Privacy

Email Basics

It is easier for a bad actor to impersonate you if they know personal information about you, like your date of birth or address. So do not put your day, month or year of birth in your email address. You can also remove your birth date from social media.

Password Security

Use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or Dashlane to generate and store unique, complex passwords for every account on the internet. You only need to remember one password - the one to log in to your password manager, and it automatically fills all the rest of your passwords in. In 2025 this is an absolute bottom-line essential, your grandma should be using it. Password-protected organizations find it easier to prevent credential-based breaches, maintain audit trails of account access, and recover quickly from individual account compromises.

Two-Factor Authentication

This is best for adding critical security layers and meeting compliance requirements for sensitive organizational work. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on every social media platform using authenticator apps like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator rather than SMS-based codes. In each platform's security settings, look for options labeled "Two-Step Verification," "2FA," or "Login Approvals" and choose "Authentication app" over text message options when available.

Device and Browser Security‍

This can be best for preventing data exposure through compromised devices and maintaining secure access practices. Log out of social media accounts on shared computers, use private/incognito browsing for sensitive platform management, and regularly review active sessions in each platform's security settings. Install reputable browser extensions like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger to limit third-party tracking across social media sites.

Regular Audit Schedule‍

This can be best for maintaining long-term data protection and staying current with platform changes. Schedule monthly reviews of all platform privacy settings, as social media companies frequently update their interfaces and default settings.

Documentation and Training‍

Create written documentation of your chosen privacy settings for each platform and ensure all team members understand the reasoning behind these choices. This is particularly important for organizations where multiple people manage social media accounts, as inconsistent privacy practices can create vulnerabilities in your overall data protection strategy. Include password sharing protocols, 2FA backup procedures, and clear guidelines about what information should never be posted or shared through social media channels. Do not share passwords in written documentation. Get a business account for a tool like Bitwarden, 1Password, or Dashlane, and add staff to that tool. You can then limit access of certain team members to specific folders of passwords.

Crisis Response Planning

‍Develop procedures for responding to potential data breaches or privacy policy changes on platforms you use. This includes identifying which team member will monitor platform announcements, how quickly you'll implement necessary changes, and communication strategies for informing stakeholders about privacy-related updates to your social media practices. Maintain offline backups of critical account recovery information and ensure multiple team members can access password managers and authentication apps during emergencies.

Mobile App Privacy Considerations

Device Permission Management

‍This can be best for preventing unnecessary data access and maintaining control over sensitive device features. Social media apps frequently request access to your contacts, camera, microphone, and location, but many of these permissions aren't essential for basic platform use. On iOS devices, navigate to Settings → Privacy & Security and review each permission category, denying access for social media apps unless specifically needed for your work. On Android devices, go to Settings → Privacy → Permission manager and systematically review which apps have access to sensitive data like contacts, location, and camera.

Location Services Restrictions‍

This can be best for preventing detailed tracking and protecting sensitive organizational locations. Location permissions allow apps to access GPS data for high accuracy tracking, which can expose patterns about your work locations, home address, and daily routines. In your phone's main settings, disable location access for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google apps unless location-based features are essential for your organization's social media strategy. If you must allow location access, choose "While Using App" rather than "Always" to limit background tracking.

Contact Syncing Controls‍

This can be best for protecting your network's privacy and preventing unwanted data sharing. Instagram and other platforms use contact syncing to suggest connections and build advertising profiles. In each app's settings, look for "Contact Syncing," "Upload Contacts," or "Find Friends" options and disable them to prevent sharing your entire contact list with social media companies.

Camera and Microphone Access

‍This can be best for preventing unauthorized recording and maintaining meeting confidentiality. Camera and microphone permissions can be misused for unauthorized recordings, which is particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive information or working with vulnerable populations. iOS provides orange indicators when apps access your microphone or camera, helping you monitor unexpected access. Review these permissions regularly and deny access unless you're actively using features like Stories, live streaming, or video calling through these platforms.

Background App Activity

‍This can be best for reducing data collection and improving battery life while maintaining privacy. Many social media apps continue collecting data when running in the background, including location tracking, usage patterns, and device information. On iOS, navigate to Settings → General → Background App Refresh and disable it for social media apps. On Android, go to Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Battery → Background Activity and restrict background data usage for platforms you don't need constant notifications from.

Photo Library Access‍

This can be best for preventing accidental sharing and protecting sensitive visual content. Social media apps often request full photo library access when you only need to share specific images. There are lots of challenges with restricted photo access, such as needing to grant permission each time you share content, but this prevents accidental sharing of sensitive organizational photos or personal images. Choose "Selected Photos" or "Ask Each Time" rather than "All Photos" when prompted for photo library access.

App Store Privacy Labels Review‍

This can be best for making informed decisions about which social media apps to install and understanding data collection practices before downloading. Both iOS App Store and Google Play Store now display privacy labels showing what data apps collect and share. Before installing social media management tools, scheduling apps, or analytics platforms, review these privacy labels to understand data collection practices. Pay particular attention to apps that collect "Sensitive Information" or share data with "Third Parties" for advertising or analytics purposes.

Mobile-Specific Settings Access‍

This can be best for comprehensive mobile privacy management that complements web-based privacy controls. Many mobile apps have privacy settings that don't appear in web versions of platforms. In the Facebook mobile app, tap Menu → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Privacy Shortcuts to access mobile-specific controls like "Active Status" and "Story Privacy." For Instagram mobile settings, navigate through your profile → Menu → Settings and Privacy → Privacy to find mobile-only options like "Activity Status" and "Read Receipts" that don't exist in web versions.

Maintenance

Remember that mobile app privacy requires ongoing attention beyond initial setup. Apps can access sensitive data even when you're not actively using them, making regular permission audits essential for comprehensive data protection. Platform updates, app updates and policy changes can all change your privacy settings automatically. Review your settings regularly to maintain data protection while still achieving your social impact goals through these powerful communication tools.

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