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There are questionable apps (many of them) and then there’s the daddy of questionable apps: a social media that has become synonymous with the practice of using our data for sometimes notorious purposes. Yet, despite what we know about this app, it continues to be the number one social media app in the world because it has so successfully connected people and groups.
Other social media apps have come and gone, but for more than 15 years, this one has remained and prospered. And, in the process, we keep learning more and more about the ways that the free app is actually anything BUT free. We are its products and our data helps it turn major profits. If you haven’t already guessed what security experts have to say about the one social media app they think you should delete immediately if data-sharing is a priority, here’s the one so many agreed upon.
Surprised? Probably not. Facebook has been on tech experts' radars for years now because of the news that it sells users’ data to third-party advertisers. But its methods of acquiring that data continue to spook experts out, so much so that the app remains high on the list of social media sites many say is best to delete.
Trevor Larson, CEO of Nectar HR, goes as far as saying that “Facebook is the worst of the worst.”
“At the top of my 'absolute worst' list as a life-long iPhone user is without a doubt the Facebook app,” Larson says. “It tracks you across all of its apps and websites, as well as when you are logged out of Facebook. It demands virtually every permission you can think of and wants full access to all of your texts, calls, contacts, your camera, mic, internal storage, WiFi and location. The worst part is that it claims all of this is necessary for the app to function.”
According to Larson, everything, from what you buy and what you browse to how long you spend on the platform, is used to target advertising to you. “And, on top of that, Facebook has made it clear, from the numerous high-profile data breaches over the years, that your data is not safe with them,” Larson says. “It also has the additional distinction of being one of the worst apps for battery drainage because it is incessantly searching for updates even when you aren't active on the app.”
And it doesn’t stop there. Even when you are on Facebook and innocently click on an app within the social media site that promises something fun — like delivering to you which old school Hollywood star looks just like you based on your FB profile photo — there could be nefarious things going on in the background.
“Facebook apps have long been an issue for security experts because you don't always know who's developing the apps and how they handle the data they’re collecting,” says Stephan Jacob, the editor at bestforandroid.com. “Yes, you have to approve apps before they can appear on your profile and access your personal information, but from there, the security of your data is in the developer's hands.”
The only way to truly be safe with your data is to delete the Facebook app and not allow it access to any of it. But the allure of Facebook is obvious. Your friends are on it. Your family is on it. Your favorite musicians use it to promote their music. You’re afraid of missing out. If you can’t stand the thought of doing without Facebook, Jacob says the next best thing you can do is be very mindful of your settings, what you are sharing, and with whom you are sharing it.
“Be selective about the apps you add to your profile--don't take every quiz, for example,” Jacob says. “Take a few minutes to check your Facebook application settings to make sure that your app privacy settings are as you want them.”
