Are you using Threads app? It collects tons of your personal dataHere is a list of things

By Ankita GargMeta has finally launched its Threads app, a rival to Twitter. The company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, wrote on the new social media platform that 10 million people have already downloaded the app and signed up for it in just seven hours. This remarkable feat can be attributed to Meta capitalizing on its existing Instagram user base, allowing seamless integration between the two platforms.

By enabling users to log in using their Instagram accounts and maintain the same list of followers, Meta has ingeniously streamlined the transition process, enticing millions to make the switch to Threads. Astonishingly, the entire onboarding process takes less than 10 seconds, further bolstering the allure of this burgeoning Twitter competitor.

However, amidst the excitement surrounding Threads’ meteoric rise, a disquieting truth has come to light – the app’s voracious appetite for personal data. A closer examination reveals a comprehensive list of user information that Threads diligently collects. Also, did you know the app is not available in the EU? Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Threads, is currently grappling with the intricacies of data sharing between the two applications, prompting the delay in making Threads available within the European Union, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Threads app isn’t available in various European Union countries, including Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Ireland, and Belgium. The company is reportedly working to navigate the regulatory landscape and ensure compliance before extending the reach of its new platform to European users.

Threads app collects tons of your personal dataHere is a list of things

Threads app is the new talk of the town, but it isn’t for the best. It collects a range of user data across 25 different categories, surpassing the data collection capabilities of Twitter. Notably, the app gathers sensitive data such as web browsing, physical addresses, health and fitness information, and other user contact details that Twitter does not collect.

The scope of data collection is extensive. An in-depth examination of the information disclosed on the Google Play Store reveals a lengthy list of data types procured by the app. These include details pertaining to your app usage, installed applications, in-app search history, web browsing activities, calendar events, contacts, voice or sound recordings, music files, various audio files, photos, videos, SMS messages, in-app communications, emails, payment card information, bank account details, and even encompassing financial data.

Furthermore, the app goes beyond ordinary data gathering by delving into more sensitive realms, encompassing biometric data, sexual orientation, and ethnic information. However, it is worth noting that the collection of location data is not unique to this app, as numerous other social media platforms also engage in this practice.

Meta deliberately launched Threads when Twitter is messing up?

Amidst a backdrop of growing discontent among Twitter users due to recent alterations implemented by Elon Musk, the timing of the much-anticipated launch of this new platform is particularly intriguing. In recent days, Musk made several significant modifications to the visibility of tweets on the site, further fueling user dissatisfaction.

Last Friday witnessed the commencement of a new policy, as the platform began obstructing unregistered users from perusing tweets. The following day brought forth yet another change, with the introduction of “temporary” limitations on the number of tweets individuals could consume within a single day. The micro-blogging platform has also previously removed blue tick for all users and it is now only available for paid accounts. It will be interesting to see whether Threads will be able to survive and throw Twitter out of the competition in the future.