Security Experts Warn: The Most Unsafe Social Media Apps That Sell Your Personal Information—LinkedIn, More

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn isn’t an app that is considered dangerous or risky on the same level as other social media apps, but it is collecting a ton of data on you. Your profile alone contains your name, job title, job experiences (which clues people into your location), and LinkedIn has access to your contacts, as well. LinkedIn shares your aggregated data with advertisers and partners to create targeted ads, even if it isn’t revealing your actual identity.

You can control how your data is used, to some extent, by heading to LinkedIn’s privacy settings.

2. TikTok

TikTok is the latest social media app to fall under intense scrutiny for its data collection practices and how it tracks location data. The app’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China, and concerns have arisen over what the Chinese government could possibly do with the data they collect from its users. It hasn’t always been transparent about its data collection process and many tech experts have spoken out about not downloading or using TikTok to protect your privacy and data.

3. Facebook

You can consider Facebook the OG of social media apps that raised red flags for its data collection practices. Facebook collects a ton of data like your shares, likes, and connections and interactions with other users. It has been found to use data in political advertising and other targeted ads. To keep yourself safe on Facebook, you can delete the app (this is the only way to ensure you protect yourself) or share less and adjust your privacy settings in Facebook so that you aren’t granting the app unnecessary permissions.