Popular social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are tracking your every move. They monitor your location, browsing history, political opinions, and even your likes and dislikes. Read the full details here.
Have you ever noticed that you talk about something with your friends, and soon after, the same thing starts appearing in your Facebook or Instagram feed? If yes, then understand that social media apps are not just monitoring your posts — they are tracking your entire lifestyle. We are not saying this without reason. This has been revealed in a report that claims which social media platforms monitor users and how they operate.
Shocking revelation in the report
According to a report by UK-based research firm Apteco, many popular apps — including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube — silently monitor every movement of users. These apps track your clicks, likes, location, and even your political views.
Which apps are involved in spying?
You’ll be surprised to know that many of the apps you use daily are part of this list. It includes Facebook, Instagram, Threads (Meta’s apps), LinkedIn, Pinterest, Amazon, Alexa, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and PayPal.
Your browsing patterns, financial details, device information, and even your contact list are collected through these apps. This data is then used to create your digital profile, helping companies understand your behavior in detail.
What risks does this pose?
Some may argue that this data is collected only to enhance the user experience — but the reality is quite different. With this information, companies not only understand your preferences and emotions but can also manipulate them in subtle ways.
Take the Cambridge Analytica scandal, for example. In that case, the political opinions of millions of people were analyzed using social media data. This incident drew massive attention worldwide. The data was even used during the 2016 U.S. elections.
How to protect yourself?
If you want to use these apps while safeguarding your privacy, follow these simple tips:
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Always read app permissions carefully before installing.
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Don’t allow any permission without checking its purpose.
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Only grant access to the camera, microphone, and location when absolutely necessary.
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Go to your phone’s settings and review the permissions granted to each app.
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Avoid giving background access to apps without a valid reason.
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Visit the Play Store or App Store and read the Data Practices section.
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Always download apps from official platforms only.
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Also, check user reviews and ratings before installing any app.