Facebook Marketplace is built into the Facebook app and website

Facebook Marketplace is a section inside Facebook where people buy and sell items locally. You do not need a separate account or app — if you use Facebook, you can reach Marketplace from the main menu. On the Facebook website, look for the storefront icon in the left sidebar. On the mobile app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and scroll down to find Marketplace. The icon looks like a small storefront or shop window.

When you open Marketplace, you see listings from people near you. You can browse items for sale, message sellers, and post your own items. Facebook shows you listings based on your location and search terms. Unlike a classified ad site, Marketplace is built directly into the platform where you already spend time, which is why Facebook collects information about your browsing and buying behavior there.

Key Takeaways

  • Marketplace is accessed through the main Facebook menu on both the website and mobile app — you do not need to read anything separate.
  • Facebook tracks what you search for, which listings you view, and how long you look at each one, then uses that data to show you targeted ads elsewhere on the platform.
  • Your Marketplace activity is tied to your Facebook profile, so sellers can see your name, profile picture, and mutual friends before they message you.
  • You can limit what information Facebook uses for Marketplace ads by adjusting your ad preferences in Settings, though you cannot turn off tracking entirely.

What information Facebook collects when you use Marketplace

Facebook records every search you make on Marketplace, every listing you click on, and how long you spend looking at each item. It also logs whether you message a seller, whether you complete a purchase, and what category of items you browse most often. This data is stored in your Facebook profile and linked to your account.

When you post an item for sale, Facebook collects the photos you upload, the description you write, your location, and the price you set. If you include your phone number or email in the listing, that becomes part of the Marketplace record. Facebook also sees which buyers message you and what you say to them. All of this information helps Facebook build a detailed picture of your shopping habits and interests.

The platform uses this information to show you ads — not just on Marketplace, but across Facebook, Instagram, and other sites that use Facebook's ad network. If you search for furniture repeatedly, you will see furniture ads. If you message sellers about cars, you may see car-related ads for weeks afterward. This targeting is one of the main reasons Facebook offers Marketplace for free.

How to see what data Facebook has about your Marketplace activity

You can view some of your Marketplace history by going to your Facebook profile, clicking the menu icon, and selecting "Settings and privacy" then "Settings." From there, go to "Apps and websites" and look for any connected apps or services. However, this shows only apps you have explicitly connected — not the full record of what Facebook itself has collected about your Marketplace searches and views.

To see more detailed information, go to "Settings and privacy" then "Settings," then find "Your information and permissions." Click "read your information" and select the date range and categories you want. Facebook will compile a file that includes your Marketplace activity, messages with sellers, and listings you have posted. This read can take several hours or days depending on how much data you have. The file shows what Facebook has stored, though it does not show all the inferences Facebook has made about your interests based on that data.

Controlling what Marketplace information is visible to other people

When you post an item on Marketplace, your name and profile picture appear on the listing by default. Buyers can click your profile to see your mutual friends, your public posts, and other information you have shared on Facebook. You cannot hide your identity on Marketplace — sellers and buyers will always know who you are.

You can control who sees your listings by adjusting your Marketplace privacy settings. Go to your Marketplace profile (the icon that looks like a person in the top right of Marketplace), then tap "Settings." From there, you can choose whether your listings are visible to everyone or only to people in your area. You can also turn off Marketplace entirely if you do not want to buy or sell through it, though this does not stop Facebook from collecting data about your browsing if you still view other people's listings.

If you message a seller or buyer, that conversation is private between the two of you. Facebook can see the content of your messages, but other Marketplace users cannot. However, if you include personal information like your phone number or address in a message, you are sharing it directly with that person, and Facebook stores a copy of it.

Why Facebook shows you targeted ads based on Marketplace activity

Marketplace is free because Facebook uses your activity there to sell advertising space to other companies. When you search for a specific item, Facebook learns what you are interested in. When you message a seller, Facebook learns you are seriously considering a purchase. This information is valuable to advertisers who want to reach people actively shopping for certain products.

Facebook does not sell your personal information directly to advertisers. Instead, it uses your Marketplace data to create audience segments — groups of people with similar interests — and sells ads to those segments. An advertiser can say "show my furniture ad to people who have searched for used couches in the last 30 days," and Facebook matches that request to your profile without telling the advertiser who you are.

This system is why you may see ads for items you searched on Marketplace appearing in your Facebook feed or on other websites. The ads follow you because Facebook has flagged you as someone interested in that category. You cannot stop this entirely, but you can reduce it by adjusting your ad preferences.

How to limit ads based on your Marketplace activity

Go to "Settings and privacy" then "Settings," then find "Ads." Click "Ad preferences" and you will see categories of interests that Facebook has assigned to you based on your activity. Many of these come directly from Marketplace searches and views. You can click on any category and remove yourself from it, which tells Facebook to stop using that interest for ad targeting.

Removing yourself from interest categories reduces the ads you see in that area, but it does not stop Facebook from collecting the data. Facebook still records what you search for on Marketplace. It straightforward stops using that specific interest to target ads to you. You may still see ads based on other interests or information Facebook has about you.

You can also turn on "Limit ad tracking" in your phone's settings (called "App Tracking Transparency" on iPhone and "Limit Ad Tracking" on Android). This tells apps and websites not to track you across other apps and sites. However, it does not affect how Facebook tracks you within Facebook itself — only how Facebook shares that data with other companies.

What happens to your data if you delete a Marketplace listing or your account

If you delete a Marketplace listing, the listing disappears from public view, but Facebook keeps a record of it in your account history. If someone took a screenshot of your listing or shared it elsewhere, that copy remains outside Facebook's control. Deleting the listing does not remove the data Facebook collected about who viewed it or how long they looked.

If you delete your entire Facebook account, Marketplace listings you posted will be removed from the platform. However, Facebook retains some data about your account for a limited time in case you change your mind and reactivate. The exact retention period varies, but Facebook typically keeps backup copies of deleted data for several months. After that period, most of your data is deleted, though some information may be kept for legal or business reasons.

Deactivating your account (rather than deleting it) keeps your data intact. Your Marketplace listings will not appear publicly, but your account and all its history remain on Facebook's servers. You can reactivate at any time and your data will be restored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Marketplace without a Facebook profile picture?

No. Facebook requires you to have a profile picture visible on your account to use Marketplace. This is a safety measure so buyers and sellers can see who they are dealing with. You can use any photo — it does not have to be your real face — but your Marketplace profile will display whatever image you have set as your profile picture.

Does Facebook share my Marketplace messages with third-party sellers?

No. Your messages with sellers stay between you and that person on Facebook's platform. However, if you give a seller your phone number or email address in a message, you are sharing that information directly with them, and they can contact you outside Facebook. Facebook itself does not forward your messages to anyone else.

Can I buy or sell on Marketplace without letting Facebook track my activity?

No. Using Marketplace means Facebook collects data about your searches, views, and messages. You can reduce how that data is used for ads, but you cannot prevent Facebook from collecting it in the first place. If you want to avoid this tracking, you would need to use a different buying and selling platform that is not owned by Meta.

What if a seller asks for payment outside of Marketplace?

Be cautious. Marketplace has built-in protections for payments made through the platform. If you pay outside Marketplace — through wire transfer, gift card, or cash app — you lose those protections and have no recourse if the seller does not deliver. Facebook recommends using Marketplace's payment system or meeting in person with cash. If a seller insists on payment outside the platform, that is often a sign of a scam.

How long does Facebook keep my Marketplace search history?

Facebook does not publish a specific retention period for Marketplace search history. Your searches remain in your account indefinitely unless you manually delete them. You can clear your search history by going to your Marketplace profile, tapping "Settings," and looking for a "Clear search history" or similar option, though this varies by device and app version.