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Facebook is now saving your search history

Facebook stalkers take note: Since Sept. 21, the social network has been recording user searches as a new feature of Activity Log. 

 

Fidel Martinez

Internet Culture

Posted on Sep 27, 2012   Updated on Jun 2, 2021, 10:25 am CDT

If you’ve ever stalked an ex on Facebook, expect their name to pop up on your search bar.

The social network announced Sept. 21 that users will have access to their search histories. The saved searches are a new feature of Activity Log.

“Starting today, in addition to your other activity, you’ll be able to see the searches you’re making on Facebook. Just as you can choose to delete any of your posts, you can use the same inline control on Activity Log to remove any of your searches at any time.”

As if expecting privacy concerns, Facebook tried to assuage any fears by assuring its userbase that the search activity would only be visible to them.

“It’s important to remember that no one else can see your Activity Log, including your search activity.”

The move is not an unexpected one. Speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference last month, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that his company was already handling about 1 billion daily search queries “without even trying.”

“Facebook is pretty uniquely positioned to answer the questions people have,” he said.

Zuckerberg also revealed that the social network would eventually build a more powerful search engine, likely to compete with Google.

Screengrab via Fidel Martinez/Facebook

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*First Published: Sep 27, 2012, 4:52 pm CDT