You can't opt out of ads if on Facebook but can control them

If you are on Facebook, you cant opt out of ads altogether because ads are what keep Facebook free but you do have different options to control how your data can and cant be used to show you ads, the social media giant has said

According to Rob Goldman, Vice President, Ads at Facebook, you can decide which of your profile fields you want used for ad targeting in the Information section under "About You."

"You can remove yourself from interests under 'Interests' and categories under 'Your Categories.' You can turn off ads that use data from apps or websites that you visit in the Ads Settings section under 'Ads based on use of websites and apps,'" Goldman said in a blog post late on Monday.

Facebook said that it does not tell advertisers who you are or sell your information to anyone.

"We provide advertisers with reports about the kinds of people seeing their ads and how their ads are performing, but we don't share information that personally identifies you. You can always see the 'interests' assigned to you in your ad preferences, and if you want, remove them," the post added.

Facebook is currently embroiled in a data scandal controversy involving 87 million users.

"We sell advertisers space on Facebook -- much like TV or radio or newspapers do. We don't sell your information. When an advertiser runs a campaign on Facebook, we share reports about the performance of their ad campaign," said Goldman.

"We could, for example, tell an advertiser that more men than women responded to their ad, and that most people clicked on the ad from their phone.

"As people use Facebook, they share information and content - whether it's liking a post, sharing a photo or updating their profile. We use this information to give you a better service. 

"For example, we can show you photos from your closest friends at the top of your News Feed, or show you articles about issues that matter most to you, or suggest groups that you might want to join," the post added.

Data lets advertisers reach the right people, including millions of small businesses and non-profits who rely on Facebook every day to reach people that might be interested in their product or cause. 

"Data lets a local coffee shop survive and grow amid larger competitors by showing ads to customers in its area. And it lets a non-profit promote a diabetes fundraiser to those interested in the cause," the post noted.

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Apple set to bring users' health records to iPhone

Apple has introduced a test update to its Health app to help users access their medical records on their iPhones. Patients from 12 different hospitals in the US will initially be able to view their medical records on their smartphones.  "Our goal is to help consumers live a better day. We've worked closely with the health community to create an experience everyone has wanted for years -- to view medical records easily and securely right on your iPhone," Apple COO Jeff Williams said in a statement. 

"By empowering customers to see their overall health, we hope to help consumers better understand their health and help them lead healthier lives," Williams said. 

The update to the Health app was mede with the iOS 11.3 beta. The updated section brings together hospitals, clinics and the existing Health app to make it easy for consumers to see their available medical data from multiple providers whenever they choose, Apple said.  Johns Hopkins Medicine, Cedars-Sinai, Penn Medicine and other participating hospitals and clinics are among the first to make the beta feature available to their patients.

In the past, patients' medical records were held in multiple locations, requiring patients to log into each care provider's website and manually piece together the information.  With the new update, consumers will have medical information from various institutions organised into one view covering allergies, conditions, immunisations, lab results, medications, procedures and vitals, and will receive notifications when their data is updated. 

Health Records data is encrypted and protected with the user's iPhone passcode, Apple said. 

The update will also offer features such as giving users power to control their batteries, Augmented Reality (AR) upgrade and Animoji. "This spring, iOS 11.3 will deliver exciting new ways to experience Augmented Reality on iPhone and iPad, new Animoji on iPhone X and the ability to view health records in the Health app," Apple said in a statement late on Wednesday.

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Instagram adds GIF stickers to 'Stories'

Popular photo-sharing platform Instagram is rolling out a new feature that helps users search and add GIF stickers to their Instagram "Stories".

"When you tap to add a sticker to a photo or video in stories, you'll now see a new GIF option. Tap it to open a library full of hundreds of thousands of moving stickers powered by GIPHY," the Facebook-owned company wrote in a blog post late on Tuesday.

Users can also browse through currently trending topics on "GIPHY" platform or search their collection to find a sticker.

"From bouncing letters and twirling hearts to dancing cats and pizza in space, these animated stickers help you make any photo or video funny, interesting or creative," the company added.

The photo-sharing platform will also roll out a feature that allows users to upload photos and videos of any size to their story, so they never have to lose part of a photo or edit anybody out of a group video.

"When you upload a photo or video, pinch to share it in its original dimensions, whether it's square, portrait or landscape. Any extra room will be filled with a custom colour gradient that matches what you've shared," the company added.

The GIF stickers feature is available as part of Instagram version 29 for both iOS and Android devices.

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Google now lets users mute reminder ads

Google has introduced a feature that lets users filter out annoying reminder advertisements that stalk them around the web.

The tool is located in Google's account settings.

"Today, we're rolling out the ability to mute the reminder ads in apps and on websites that partner with us to show ads," Jon Krafcik, Group Product Manager, Data Privacy and Transparency at Google, wrote in a blog post late on Thursday.

"Reminder ads can be useful, but if you aren't shopping for Snow Boot Co.'s boots anymore, then you don't need a reminder about them. A new control within 'Ads Settings' will enable you to mute Snow Boot Co.'s reminder ads," Krafcik added.

The reminder ads can be muted in applications and on websites that partner with Google.

The new tool applies only to Google's network of ads, which includes more than two million sites and reaches over 90 per cent of people on the web, according to CNET.

The search engine giant also plans to expand this tool to control annoying ads on its other platforms such as YouTube, Search and Gmail in the coming months. 

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Facebook to pay up for teen's naked pics

Facebook has settled a legal case involving naked photos posted on the social media platform of a Northern Irish teenager, the lawyer for the victim confirmed to AFP on Wednesday.

Pearse McDermott, who has been representing the teenage girl, said they had reached a confidential agreement with the US tech titan.

"Facebook has agreed to pay the costs of the action," he said.

 The girl had sued the company for damages, claiming negligence, fraudulent use of personal information and violations of data protection law.

During the proceedings, her lawyers had compared the posting of the photos to child abuse.

The case was initiated in 2014, when the girl was 14 years-old, after she reported the repeated posting of the revealing photo on a "shame page" on Facebook.

A spokesman for the social media site declined to comment on the conclusion of the case.

He said Facebook was committed to constantly improving its platform and listening to users.

The spokesman added the company had set up tools to fight against practices known as "revenge porn", when ex-partners post intimate snapshots or videos.

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