If you use Google when you browse, play YouTube videos, or utilize Maps to find directions you leave footprints for Google to gather. Data is among Google’s most sought-after assets, which is why it collects as much data as it can whenever you make use of Google’s tools or services.
In light of this has anyone ever considered what Google does with the information it gathers about you? Do you know if there’s a way to get this information? Are you even concerned?
Google tracks the majority of your interactions with websites, apps, and other services that are connected through Google. It also records everything you do with your Google account. This data is stored in a profile on the internet called “My Activity.“
In the following sections, we’ll go over the meaning of “Google My Activity” and how you can make use of this tool to limit Google’s data collection activities.
What is Google my Activity?
Take a look at your medical records from the hospital for a moment. They usually contain information regarding your hospital visits and admissions as well as allergies and habits; medical history, results of tests; current and past diagnoses, and treatment. The more details the hospital has on your medical history as well as lifestyle it is the more efficient and quicker the doctor will be able to identify and manage you.
It’s similar to the function that is the purpose of Google My Activity. It’s a database of your online activity on Google and your interactions with Google’s services.
Google My Activity (or My Activity for short) is the repository for the Google data. It also lets you access and manages the information that Google collects from you when you use its products or services. According to Google states My Activity is created in order to “put you in charge of your information.”
By using My Activity you are able to look at the amount (or much?) of your personal information and activities on the internet Google could have access.
Before we go over how to use your My Activity utility, and how you can utilize it to manage your personal data and other information, let’s take a look at the data Google gathers every when you use one of its services and products.
What kind of data does Google collect?
Google collects data for a variety of reasons. But the primary goal of collecting data is to enhance its services and to provide a more personalized user experience ( customized ads and search results for example). It is possible to learn more about the reasons Google uses data by visiting Google’s page on the Privacy Policy webpage.
The data Google gathers as you utilize its products includes among others the following:
- Things you look up (on Google and YouTube).
- videos you watch.
- Ads that you see or click.
- History and information about the location (places you’ve visited and places you’ve visited).
- Tools that allow you to connect to the Google services (browser information applications, devices, etc.)
- Websites you visit.
This information is typically grouped within three different categories. Knowing this segmentation of data will allow you to understand which steps to take to get through the Google My Activity page and manage your information.
- Website and app activity: In this category you’ll discover the history of your Google Search history, browsing history on Google Chrome, and websites that you browse on other apps linked with Google. Google account. You can also find recordings of voice search queries (on Google Maps and Google Search) and navigations on maps as well as the interactions you have with Google Assistant are also stored in this section.
Other data saved on this page includes an IP address for your device, the ads that you click on, and items you buy on the site of an advertiser. If you’re using an Android smartphone, Google will save information regarding the device (battery degree, level of installed apps, and system errors, for example.) within this section of your My Activity page.
- YouTube History This section contains your YouTube activities, including the videos you look up on YouTube as well as the videos you have watched at what time and date you watched them, and the device that you used to view them.
- Local History: When you have an Android device that has the ability to use location services, Google will save the places you go to even when you’re not using the Google service. On iOS gadgets, Google collects your location (in real-time) using the special Google application.
What happens when you delete or disable data collection?
For each Google account, Google automatically collects these details (and more) in default. However, you are at the option of limiting the collection of data or even stopping completely. If you don’t want to need to let Google keep your data on its servers, you may erase your online activity history on Your Activity page. What happens when you delete your account?
In reality, there’s no serious consequence to blocking Google’s access to information. You’ll be able to use the basic features of Google’s services, just as every other user. However, you’ll be denied access to features that are personalized such as ads, recommendations, and ad campaigns.
In this case, turning off YouTube History means you’ll not receive suggestions when you look for videos. In the same way, YouTube will stop recommending videos that it thinks you’ll enjoy.
If you switch off Location History, Google will stop sending you information regarding how to get around (in Maps), and neither will you be able to receive suggestions or advertisements about the places you’ve visited or been to.
Find and Manage Your Data
It is possible to access your Google My Activity utility on your smartphone and on your computer. Follow the steps below to find out how to monitor and view your data using Google My Activity for Android, iOS, and PC.
Utilize Google My Activity with PC
- Launch your preferred web browser and visit the Google My Activity page(or type myactivity.google.com into your browser’s URL).
You might be asked to log in to your Google account in case you haven’t previously.
- The categories mentioned above ( Web & App Activity, Location History as well as the YouTube history) are on the top of your My Activity dashboard.
Scroll down to the end of the dashboard and you’ll see a list of all the recently-used Google applications and services: Maps, Google search history, and other websites you’ve visited.
Select the three-dot icon and then select More Details to find out more information about the topic or activity.
If not otherwise, you can click the Delete button to delete this information (permanently) out of Google’s databases.
On the item’s details page You’ll find all the details about the task.
If you typed in “Best pet stores in New York” on Google The Item Details page will provide precisely when that you did the search, as well as your device used and much more.
Are you looking to stop Google from collecting Your Data? Here’s How to Do It
As we mentioned as well, you can utilize your My Activity tool to restrict the data Google collects or eliminate it completely. All you need to do is turn off data collection in all three categories, namely Web and App Activity as well as History of a Location, History, and YouTube History.
Select the hamburger icon located in the top-left corner. Select the activity controls.
Browse through the options for data on the page, and then turn the various options off.
To erase all previously saved web-based activities, go back to the My Activity homepage and click the delete drop-down menu.
Choose the All-time option from the window for deleting activities.
Check for the Check the Select All box, then click next to continue.
Set an automatic deletion of data Schedule
Google offers an auto-delete feature to delete your account’s data. Scroll down to the Data group and then select the option to delete your account automatically.
Select Auto-delete from the options and select next to continue. Google does not allow users to delete data that is older than 3,18 or 36 calendar months.
Utilize Google My Activity on Android
If you’re using an Android-powered tablet or smartphone this is what you’ll have to do.
- Navigate to Settings and then select Google.
- Click the Manage your Google Account button.
- Select the Personalization and Data tab and then choose to Manage your activity control.
It will then open the Activity control webpage where you will be able to access the information that was saved from Google across all the services you’ve utilized.
Utilize Google My Activity on iOS
You can also use My Activity, which is a My Activity utility on your iPhone as well as iPad through the Google application.
- Start the Google application and tap on the icon for the profile in the upper-right corner.
- Click on the Manage Your Google account button.
- Choose your personal details and privacy preferences.
- Scroll down to in the section Manage the details of your Google Activity section and then choose the Activity control.
You’ll be able to manage the data that is stored within your Google account via the subsequent page.
Why Should You Care?
You’ve likely used an account on your Google account(s) over a long time. It’s only sensible to understand how much information you’re supplying Google with, what information it has about you, and how it’s handling your data. Right?
It is interesting to note that Google is open regarding its data collection processes and its practices. Additionally, Google hands you (and many other people) the power to make a decision about your personal data. You can choose to opt-in and out of every type of collected data at any point and take the control seat with your data.
While saving your account’s activities can assist Google in enhancing and customizing user experience may become a little creepy at times. If you do a search for “how to diaper an infant” via Google or YouTube and you’ll see endless ads from various diaper brands on every app and web page you browse.
If you’re unhappy with the volume of personal information Google gathers or the way your information is utilized to show personalized advertisements to you the My Activity tool is available. Utilize it to safeguard your information and safeguard your online privacy