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With so much talk lately about apps that collect enormous amounts of user data to use for their own monetary purposes, it can be difficult to keep track of which to avoid. Generally speaking, free apps are not free — they bank on user data to make money from third-party advertisers. But let’s get even more specific: we spoke with experts who let us in on how this is the one iPhone app that uses your personal information—even when you’re not using it.
If you already guessed that the number one app to avoid is Facebook, you’re right. In fact, Facebook is so problematic that Privacy and Tech Expert Mark Weinstein, CEO Of MeWe (a social media network with a privacy bill of rights), calls it a “data company masquerading as a social network.” Facebook’s business model is based on tracking everything its users do, he says, both on its site app — and off.
“Facebook employs psychologists and data scientists to analyze and covertly manipulate your emotions, purchase decisions, opinions, and votes," Weinstein says. "Through a system called ‘sentiment analysis’ Facebook is able to determine when users as young as 14 feel ‘defeated,’ ‘stressed’ and ‘useless,’ allowing advertisers to target them when they are most vulnerable.”
When users set up Facebook accounts, they may do so because they are eager to share photos and updates and keep connected with friends, but may neglect to read or pay attention to the fine print. As it turns out, when you sign up for Facebook on the web, you grant permission to log your activity on the site, including the locations you check into, the groups you join, and the people you interact with, says Veronica Miller, Cybersecurity Expert at VPN overview.
“This data is then used to serve you with targeted ads, in turn making more money for Facebook,” Miller says. “Users can’t stop Facebook from collecting this information as without this permission, you can’t use Facebook.”
By installing the Facebook mobile app, you give it permission to log the Wi-Fi networks you connect to, your phone model, the other apps in your phone, and everything you do on the Facebook app as well, Miller says. Facebook even sends your data to a host of marketing firms and networks so that activities on other sites can be connected with your Facebook profile.
There are a few steps you can take if you want to keep enjoying Facebook, while limiting how it can use your data. “You can limit the ads on Facebook by going to the Ad Settings and choosing Allowed or Not Allowed, limiting Facebook to use data from its marketing partners,” Miller says. A new tool announced by Facebook called “Off-Facebook Activity” can also be used to disconnect the data on other sites from what you do on Facebook, Miller says. “It still doesn’t affect how much data Facebook actually collects from users, but it just breaks the association between what you do on Facebook and off it.”
Still, the best way you can ensure Facebook doesn’t have access to your data and isn’t using it whenever and wherever is by … you guessed it — deleting your account.
“The best option to protect your privacy is to remove your Facebook account,” Miller says. “If you are going to stay with it, limit what you post and don’t upload and tag your photos. Keep the apps connected to Facebook down to a minimum to prevent third parties from having access to your data. Use a VPN to disguise your location and lock down your browser’s privacy settings so marketers do not track you.”
