Maraaz 
WhatsApp is not the only one! Which applications collect the most data?
WhatsApp, which is preparing to change the terms of use, is preparing to ban users who do not share their data with Facebook. This decision, which has been one of the most talked about topics in social media for days, is actually just the last curtain of the data wars that have been going on for years. Because WhatsApp is not the only application that collects user data and shares it with third party platforms.
London-based The Economist magazine described data as “the oil of the digital age” on its cover titled “World’s most valuable resource” in 2017.
Over the years, we have witnessed the importance of data and the struggle for it. Our personal data is once again on the agenda with the “mandatory update” decision of WhatsApp.
WhatsApp announced last week that it will offer users a new usage condition.
The deadline to approve the new update is February 8, 2021. WhatsApp requires approval of this update, except for European Union member states. Users who do not approve of WhatsApp’s new data policy until February 8 will not be able to use the application from this date.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) entered into force in 2018, which caused WhatsApp to be unable to impose this update on users living in EU member states.
Of course, deleting WhatsApp is an option. There are many alternatives like Signal and Telegram that you can use instead of WhatsApp.
You deleted WhatsApp and turned to one of these alternatives. What about others? To keep your data safe, you need to stay away from many platforms of the digital world.
This decision, which has been one of the most talked about topics in social media for days. Is actually just the last curtain of the data wars that have been going on for years. Because WhatsApp is not the only application that collects user data and shares it with third party platforms.
MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF APPLICATIONS COLLECT YOUR DATA
According to The Conversation’s recent research, more than 70 percent of the apps on our smartphones already do so and share our data with platforms. Like Google Analytics, the Facebook Graph API or Crashlytics.
In other words, these applications track where you are, how fast you are moving or what you do in the digital world with the data they collect from you, and share it with third party platforms to convert it into money.
WHICH APPLICATIONS COLLECT THE MOST DATA?
According to the research conducted by Clario, the social media platform Facebook, which also includes WhatsApp. The platform that collects the most data, follows Facebook, which also belongs to the same company.
In third place is Tinder, an online matchmaking platform. Online shopping platform platforms such as Amazon, Netflix, Uber and Spotify are also on the list.
HOW MUCH IS YOUR PERSONAL DATA?
Hundreds of apps collect and sell your data. So how much do these platforms earn from this transaction. According to research conducted by PCMag in recent months, many factors come into play when determining the value of a user’s data.
According to the study of users in the USA, gender, age and annual income stand out among these criteria.
For example, the value of the data of a male user between the ages of 24 and 35 is calculated as 0.49 dollars, while the value determined for a female user over 55 is 0.36 dollars.
It is stated that users aged 18 to 24 are in the most valuable data group. Users in this age group and their family’s annual income range from $ 120 to 149 thousand, with an annual return of $ 66 million.
