Privacy @lemmy.ml cosmicrookie @lemmy.world 12 mo. ago

Facebook on separate device

I have come to realise that I can't just leave Facebook and Instagram without it influencing the stuff that I really care about. Most of my hobbies, interests, friends, clubs etc are on Facebook, and leaving the platform would affect the level of involvement that I can achieve.

So my question is: would it be an option to run Facebook and Instagram on a device that I don't use for anything else than that? I won't being it with me anywhere and I won't use it for communication, searches, browsing etc. Only Facebook and Instagram.

I still haven't accepted the terms of the meta platform and as accepting them would allow to track on any device, I have uninstalled on all devices. So I am thinking of installing the apps on a spare device and just letting them be isolated there.

I realise that they will still track my activities on the apps though, but I believe that the few weeks I've had without the app, has taught me that I dont need to browse the fees. Just check the communities that i am involved in and put again

Any thoughts or advice on this?

12 comments

I mean yeah everybody has their own threat models so go for it just understand what you will be giving up. Assuming no recreating accounts, if you want to further isolate it I would recommend using everything meta related through a privacy friendly browser that has ad/tracking protection, aswell as an always on vpn or DNS solution that has an option to block ads and trackers.

Edit: If you want a simple addition using something like trackercontrol might be another useful tool to help you
One option is a live CD or a VM and in this case you can restore the state after each session. In both cases only your IP, timestamps, browser details and everything you interacted with on the site is stored by Facebook. But no new hardware or cookies will be stored on your device as it is wiped each time.
IDK if it's available on mobile, but Firefox has a Facebook container plug in that automatically isolates any Facebook or meta adjacent site to keep them from accessing anything else. It auto blocks FB elements on other sites (like those embedded comment sections or like button sticks)
- @Facebones @cosmicrookie Facebook and its community is a cancer that I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole whether it spies on me or not.
  
  I stopped using it in 2019 because of the toxic political atmosphere that was present.
  
  I was deactivated for a couple of years, just using messenger. Probably going back to that soon.
I wouldn't bother with the app. Log in through the website with lite apps.
What, social lives? Get outta here with that nonsense and be a hobbit like the rest of us :)

Seriously though, if you're thinking on a phone I'd reccomend just creating a second profile instead of getting a whole new device. The apps won't be running when the profile is running, and as a bonus you can usually restrict the profile's permissions. Also consider checking out web wrappers (e.g. frost) or PWAs.

On a desktop you can always just use the web version, bonus points if you auto clear cookies or have a separate profile.

Edit: if you already have a spare then that might work better than profiles.
- I think that a spare device with disabled GPS and maybe even disabled microphone (can i do that?) would work best. Some of the features on Instagram can't be accessed on a browser
you already installed the apps. they've already scarfed a bunch of data likely. bad choice.

anyway just make sure you dedicate a VPN connection to them and block local network traffic in your vpn app (i know mullvad has this feature).
I use Whatsapp in that exact scenario that you are describing. It's an old Android phone connected to wi-fi and the phone is never touched for anything outside of Whatsapp.

Having it setup that way, or for you with FB/IG, if there is no SIM in the phone, do not install anything else, no contacts in phone, you can effectively use it anonymously.

I suggest you use an Android phone so you can download APK files to install, disable Play Store and similar network services, and maybe once a month download the lastest APK and install to update it. I do that for Whatsapp or updating since I have all Google services disabled on the phone.
- What about an Android VM then? I use it for Steam, and it's far more convenient. Not to mention doesn't require spending money on a smartphone.
  
  You can do that too, use an Android VM. Whichever way works best or works easiest for you.

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