Why I avoid Meta services and applications
Image created by MidJourney v5
Frequently, I am asked questions like, "Why don't you use WhatsApp?" or "Why aren't you on Instagram?" My typical response is that I choose not to support Meta and its businesses, which deal extensively with user data. Sometimes, I simply mention the first part of the explanation without elaborating further.
Occasionally, people probe deeper, asking for more information about my reasons. I explain that Meta has a long history of infringing on user privacy, often attributing such actions to bugs. The company persistently pushes the boundaries of privacy, testing public reactions. When a gray area in user privacy arises and goes unnoticed, Meta continues its invasive practices. If discovered, they initially claim nothing is wrong before finally admitting to an "unintended bug."
Meta consistently harvests and sells vast amounts of our data to numerous companies, profiting from our information without sharing any of the gains with us. Furthermore, the Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed the unethical use of personal data without user consent, which was employed for targeted advertising and potentially influenced political outcomes.
Recent studies have demonstrated the difficulty of effectively anonymizing data. For instance, researchers at MIT were able to identify individuals from anonymized location data, while the New York Times investigation exposed the vulnerability of supposedly anonymized data points. These examples underline the challenges surrounding data privacy and protection.
Now, Meta is utilizing this massive collection of data to train AI models, with the potential for these models to mimic our writing styles and, in the future, possibly even our thought processes. Given these concerns, I choose to distance myself from Meta's services and applications, prioritizing my privacy and data security.
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of cases that demonstrate some of my reasoning.
Data privacy concerns: Meta has a history of data privacy issues (covered on the points below, but they dont cover all instances of privacy issues) with several incidents involving unauthorized access, data breaches, and the mishandling of user information.
Surveillance capitalism: Meta's business model is built around collecting user data and using it for targeted advertising. This means your personal information, interests, and online behavior can be tracked and monetized by the company.
Misinformation and fake news: Meta's platforms have been criticized for their role in spreading misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories. This can contribute to the polarization of society and have real-world consequences.
Mental health impact: Studies have shown that the excessive use of social media can have negative effects on mental health, including increased anxiety, depression, and a negative impact on self-esteem.
Monopoly and market dominance: Meta has acquired several major social media and communication platforms (e.g., Instagram, WhatsApp), which has led to concerns about their market dominance and the stifling of competition.
Algorithmic bias: The algorithms used by Meta's platforms can reinforce existing biases and create echo chambers, where users are only exposed to content that aligns with their existing beliefs and preferences.
Addiction and time consumption: Social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp are designed to be addictive, encouraging users to spend more time on their devices, which can negatively impact productivity and personal relationships.
Censorship and content moderation: Meta has been criticized for inconsistent content moderation policies, which can lead to the suppression of certain voices or the amplification of harmful content.
Cyberbullying and harassment: Social media platforms can enable cyberbullying, harassment, and the spreading of harmful content, which can have serious consequences for individuals.
Inadequate data protection for minors: Meta's platforms have been criticized for not doing enough to protect the privacy and safety of minors using their services.
Microphone access: There have been widespread concerns and rumors that Meta's apps, such as Facebook and Instagram, were secretly accessing users' microphones to eavesdrop on conversations and serve targeted ads based on what they heard. While Meta has repeatedly denied these claims, the concerns persist due to the company's history of privacy issues.
Camera access: In 2019, a bug was discovered in the Facebook iOS app that activated the camera in the background while users were scrolling through their newsfeed. Facebook acknowledged the issue and released a fix, claiming it was unintentional. The incident raised concerns about unauthorized camera access and user privacy.
Unauthorized uploading of photo thumbnails: In 2012, it was discovered that the Facebook iOS app was uploading all photo thumbnails from a user's device to Facebook servers as soon as the user granted access to their photo library. This occurred even if the user did not intend to share those photos on the platform. Facebook responded to the issue, saying it was a bug and that the uploaded photos were not used or shared. They released an update to fix the problem.
It's not possible to list all situations involving Facebook's mishandling of user privacy, as there have been numerous incidents over the years. However, here are some notable cases, along with Facebook's (now Meta) controversial responses:
Cambridge Analytica Scandal (2018): Data from around 87 million Facebook users was harvested without their consent by the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. Facebook's initial response was slow, and the company faced criticism for not taking responsibility for the breach. CEO Mark Zuckerberg eventually testified before the US Congress and European Parliament, apologizing for the company's failure to protect user data.
Facebook emotional manipulation study (2014): Facebook manipulated the news feeds of nearly 700,000 users to study the impact of positive and negative content on their emotions. The study was widely criticized for its lack of informed consent and ethical concerns. Facebook's response downplayed the impact, but the company later admitted that they should have done more to address ethical concerns and communicate about the research.
Data sharing with device manufacturers (2018): Facebook was found to have shared user data with device manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and BlackBerry without user consent. The company defended the practice, claiming that the data sharing agreements were meant to help improve the user experience on different devices and that the manufacturers were considered "service providers," not third parties.
Onavo Protect VPN app (2018): Facebook was criticized for using its Onavo Protect VPN app to collect data on users' app usage, even when users were not using Facebook's services. The company defended the practice, stating that they were transparent about the data collection. However, the app was eventually removed from the App Store due to privacy violations.
Unauthorized access to phone numbers (2018): Facebook was found to have been using phone numbers provided for two-factor authentication (2FA) for advertising purposes. The company acknowledged the practice and later provided users with the option to use 2FA without providing their phone number.
Clear History tool delay (2019): Facebook announced a "Clear History" tool in 2018, which would allow users to delete their browsing history and disassociate it from their accounts. However, the tool's launch was delayed, raising concerns about Facebook's commitment to user privacy. The tool, called "Off-Facebook Activity," was eventually released in 2020.
These examples show that Meta (formerly Facebook) has had a history of controversial privacy practices and responses that have raised concerns about user privacy and the company's commitment to safeguarding personal information.
In 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported on internal research conducted by Facebook (now Meta) about the impact of Instagram, one of its platforms, on the mental health of young users, particularly teenage girls. The research findings, which were not publicly released, suggested that Instagram had a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of some young users.
According to the report, Facebook's research found that among teens who reported suicidal thoughts, 13% of British users and 6% of American users traced these thoughts to Instagram.
The study also revealed that Instagram made body image issues worse for one in three teenage girls. These girls felt that Instagram exacerbated feelings of anxiety, depression, and negative self-image, as they compared themselves to the carefully curated and filtered images of others.
Facebook's internal research also highlighted that the platform's features, such as the "like" button and the emphasis on physical appearance, contributed to the negative impact on mental health. The findings raised concerns about how social media platforms, particularly Instagram, could be harming the mental well-being of young users.
In response to the report, Facebook emphasized that it was dedicated to understanding the potential impact of its platforms on users and was investing in research and new features to address these concerns.
The company also mentioned that it was developing features such as hiding "like" counts, offering resources for users experiencing negative body image or eating disorders, and working on a version of Instagram for users under 13 to provide a safer environment for younger audiences. However, the disclosure of the internal research led to increased scrutiny from the public, lawmakers, and regulators regarding the company's responsibility for the well-being of its users, especially young people.
I recall an incident when I made a post on Facebook to a small group of about 10 to 20 people, despite having over 1000 friends on the platform. There was a specific reason I wanted to keep the post within that closed group. However, at the time, if someone commented on my post, their comment became visible to their entire friend list, along with my post. I was sharing my thoughts on a sensitive topic, and some individuals outside my intended circle took offense. This experience made me realize within 24 hours that Facebook could not be trusted as a platform.
In conclusion, Meta's corporate practices, business decisions, revenue generation methods, disregard for user privacy, and aggressive anti-competitive behavior (such as acquiring any company that might compete with their core business) provide more than enough reasons for me to avoid using their products and services. Thankfully, there are alternatives available for each of their platforms.
For Instagram, there's the fantastic Pixelfed, which is based on ActivityPub and grants users complete ownership and control over their data. WhatsApp has alternatives like iMessage (available only on iPhone/Mac), Telegram, Signal, and several others. And as for Facebook, there's no better substitute than directly engaging with friends and meeting up in person. The world has become overly reliant on Facebook as a platform for commerce and events, and it's time we consider other options.
