The issue of privacy on social media is not a new concern. Many users are aware that these platforms collect large amounts of data, but which one handles it the worst? A recent study by Incogni sheds light on this, revealing that most platforms fail to protect users’ data. Sadly, the situation shows no winners, only platforms with varying degrees of failure.
Meta’s Privacy Concerns
Just recently, Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, came under fire for planning to use data from its platforms to train its AI models. This has alarmed privacy advocates once again. The company made small changes to its privacy terms, which could lead to huge impacts on user data security. This is not the first time Meta has faced criticism, as it has a history of being careless with users’ data. The FTC and privacy groups have warned against Meta’s actions for years, with multiple violations under its belt.
Privacy Study: Incogni’s Findings
Incogni, a privacy research group, reviewed the practices of several major platforms. They used five key factors:
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- Data Collection and Retention: How much data do platforms collect, and how long do they store it?
- User Control and Consent: How much say do users have in what data is collected? What are the default settings?
- Legal Issues: How often have platforms had data breaches or face fines?
- Transparency: How much data do companies share with authorities?
- User-friendliness: Is the privacy policy easy to read and understand? How many steps are needed to delete an account?
Facebook: The Biggest Offender
The results are clear: Facebook ranks the worst. It collects more data than any other platform, has a history of privacy violations, and offers little control over privacy settings. Even if users decide to delete their accounts, their data may still be stored for up to six months. The analysts at Incogni found this especially troubling. Following Facebook, we have LinkedIn, Instagram and X capping up the top five social media platforms with the worst handling of user data. It is interesting to note that of the top five brands, three are from one company, Meta. Platforms like YouTube and Discord also store data for extended periods, even after users opt-out.
Protecting Yourself
Social media privacy is not something anyone should expect. The safest route to protecting yourself is not to use social media at all. For those who still want to engage, digging into the privacy settings and disabling data collection where possible is crucial. There are also smaller platforms, like Mastodon and Matrix, that prioritize user privacy. Though they are less known, they offer an option for people looking to protect their data without giving up on social media entirely.
