Threads: The Latest Meta Disaster You Can't Ignore!
Warning: Invasive Data Collection, EU Snub, and Outraged Users
Meta's Threads, a recently launched social media platform, is already stirring up controversy as concerns over privacy and data collection practices come to the forefront. The platform's exclusion from the European Union (EU) and its invasive data collection methods have raised questions about user privacy and Facebook's intentions.
1) Algorithmic Reliance:
One of the primary concerns revolves around Threads' algorithmic timeline. Unlike other social media platforms that offer a choice between chronological and algorithmic timelines, Threads enforces an invasive approach by prioritizing recommended and unrelated content. This undermines the platform's purpose as a viable alternative to Twitter or RSS feeds, where users expect to see content they specifically follow.
2) Data Collection + No EU release:
Threads has also faced criticism for its data collection practices. Users have raised alarms over the significant amount of personal information gathered, including purchase history, location data, search history, and more1. The platform openly admits to these practices, leaving users questioning the necessity of such extensive data collection for a text-based update platform. The absence of a release in the EU due to privacy concerns further emphasizes the severity of the issue and raises doubts about Meta's commitment to user privacy.
3) No Individual Account Deletion:
Another point of contention is the lack of flexibility in account deletion. Deleting a Threads account requires users to delete their entire Instagram account, leaving them with no option to individually shut down Threads. This lack of user control raises concerns about autonomy and highlights the extent of Facebook's influence over user decisions.
Closing points:
Critics argue that Threads offers little innovation compared to its main competitors, such as Twitter, Bluesky, and Mastodon. The speculation arises that Facebook's motivation for launching Threads lies in its vast user base, aiming to attract a significant number of people onto the platform. However, this move reinforces Facebook's reputation as a company that prioritizes monetization over user experience and privacy.
Threads fails to provide a compelling reason for users to embrace it, given its invasive nature and Facebook's questionable track record with privacy. Users are increasingly concerned about the protection of their data, attention, and privacy, rejecting the notion of being commoditized by profit-driven companies, advocating for non-algorithmic timelines, robust privacy settings, and the ability to delete Threads accounts independently of Instagram.
Until significant changes are made, users are advised to approach Threads with skepticism and continue advocating for a more user-centric and privacy-respecting internet.
Full-ish List of Data Collected by Threads:
Data Linked to You
Third-Party Advertising:
Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos, Gameplay Content, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
“Other Data”
Developer's Advertising or Marketing:
Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content ( Photos or Videos, Gameplay Content, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data
Analytics:
Health & Fitness (Health, Fitness)
Purchases (Purchase History, Financial Info, Payment Info, Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos, Audio Data, Gameplay Content, Customer Support, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Sensitive Info
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data
Product Personalization:
Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos, Gameplay Content, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Sensitive Info
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data
App Functionality:
Health & Fitness (Health, Fitness)
Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Payment Info, Credit Info, Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Emails or Text Messages, Photos or Videos, Audio Data, Gameplay Content, Customer Support, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Sensitive Info
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data
Other Purposes:
Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos, Gameplay Content, Customer Support, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data
Great post