YouTube, Instagram And Amazon: These Popular Apps Are Collecting Most Of Your Data

Smartphone users know their data is used by all the popular apps that we use daily. But did you know who tops this dubious list and how much data can these apps actually collect which immediately raises privacy concerns? 

We have a list of top 10 apps from a research firm called Apteco which tells us the most dangerous apps that you might reconsider using based on the amount of data they collect. Most of us can’t live without social media apps in this day and age but is that becoming an easy way for these companies to gather data? The firm and its report gives the answers. 

Top 10 Apps Collecting Your Data 

The report from Apteco reaffirms our concerns around the top apps and they are understandably in the top 10 here as well. 

Meta Apps Lead The Charge 

Apps like Facebook, Instagram and Threads are in the top 3 and it hardly comes as a surprise to anyone. Knowing the company’s history and its alleged data collection practices, you are looking at a large base of users whose data is privately collected, unless you have disabled the feature, which is only possible if you use an iPhone or iPad. 

Other Apps Collecting Your Data 

While Meta takes the podium, you have other apps like LinkedIn, Pinterest, Amazon (Alexa as well), YouTube and even X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Nothing New But What Should You Do? 

These lists are quite regular and only share what most people already know. But the bigger question you might want to raise is, should you stop using these apps because of their policies? The report is practical in telling users that deleting the apps is not the best way out of this situation. You can obviously look to minimise their collection which is now possible on both Android and iOS devices. 

Using apps like Uber or Zomato without giving location access will not deliver the best experience but you can always limit its usage, especially when the app is not open on the screen or stops its background activities. You can even set up manual permissions for storage, location, camera and phone log access so that you are fully in control of how these notorious apps function and make a living on the back of your crucial data.