The FTC recently published the results of a comprehensive study of social media sites that has been ongoing for four years. The organization said that many social media sites and streaming services engage in “pervasive surveillance of consumers in order to monetize their personal information.” This pervasive surveillance affects adult users as well as children and teens.
This isn’t surprising at all. After all, the old saying goes “if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.” Still, the study suggests a level of surveillance that may shock even the most skeptical among us. According to the FTC, these entities collect data and keep the data “indefinitely.” The companies also engage in “pervasive data sharing” with “grossly inadequate” security measures.
The report also found that some companies did not delete all user data in response to deletion requests. That’s not a good thing. Additionally, some companies were found to use privacy-invasive technologies like tracking pixels to “deliver advertising to users based on preferences and interests.”
But wait, there’s more. The report found that users (and even non-users) had no way to opt out of how their data is used by automated systems like algorithms, data analytics, and AI. The FTC found that these companies took “varying, inconsistent, and inadequate approaches” to monitoring and testing the use of these automated systems.
Finally, the report found that “social media and video streaming services do not adequately protect children and teens on their sites.” The study further notes that social media and digital technology overall has “negative mental health effects on young users.” This isn’t new, though some social media companies are putting tools in place to protect kids. Instagram just made it mandatory for teen accounts to include parental controls.
The FTC says all of these issues are based on the profit models of large social media and streaming companies. These business models mandate “the massive collection of user data to monetize, particularly through targeted advertising.” This is “in tension” with privacy concerns, because privacy doesn’t make money.
The study concludes that “self-regulation has failed.” To this end, the FTC has issued a number of recommendations to help solve these problems. It wants Congress to pass comprehensive privacy legislation to limit surveillance and provide “baseline protections.” It also wants social media and streaming companies to limit data collection and data sharing with third parties.
The FTC also recommends that these companies actually delete consumer data when it’s no longer needed or upon request and stop using invasive ad tracking technologies like pixels. It also wants these entities to address an overall lack of transparency about their practices. As for children and teens, the FTC says these organizations “should recognize that teens are not adults and should provide them with greater privacy protections.” Finally, it urges Congress to pass federal privacy laws for teens over the age of 13.
Again, this information isn’t new, but to see it treated this way is pretty reprehensible. You can read the full report right here. Services included in the study include X, TikTok, Reddit, Discord, Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, and many more.