Threads, known as the “Twitter of Instagram”, has arrived on the App Store and can now be downloaded for free. However, it brings with it a surprise that may be off-putting to many users: the app requires access to your privacy data in exchange for its use.
This new version of Meta, designed to compete with Twitter, has surpassed 100 million users within five days of its launch on July 6 and has revealed some surprises beyond its Twitter-like design. The application’s tab shows great interest in user privacy and it has become one of the applications that collects the most data.
Threads will collect a wide range of data, including health data, search history, browsing history, contact information, precise and approximate location, financial information, purchase history, and physical fitness, among others.
The collection and management of this data is intended to enable third-party applications, including Instagram, to display advertising and promotions. In addition, they are used to perform analytics, enable product personalization, ensure service functionality and for other unspecified purposes.
That is why if you are in the European Union you will not have been able to access Threads, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) does not approve the processing of behavioral and advertising data.
In the privacy center of Meta, and therefore Threads, they expose that the data collected from the “activity and information you provide” is done by you, i.e. the messages, photos and videos you record and share, the content you consume within the app, the topics you search for… everything, including “information about friends, followers, groups, accounts (…) and other users and communities you connect and interact with” (You know why your phone “listens” and recommends products or services to you).
It is also necessary to note that Threads will use Instagram login data, which means that users must have a previous Instagram account, but beware, if you sign up and then regret it you can lose all your photos. Threads does not allow you to delete the account without also deleting the entire Instagram if you have signed up using the latter’s data. Meta gives you the possibility to “deactivate” the profile and allows you to delete individual posts, but not the whole account.
So Threads is undoubtedly the future to come, let’s make sure it’s a secure future with our data well protected!
Contact us if you have any questions about personal data protection.
