7:30 a.m.: I woke up and checked Instagram on my phone. I didn’t like or share anything. I’ve had Instagram for 11 years, but I haven’t updated my security settings since I first opened my account at 10 years old. I assume Meta has been collecting my data for a very long time. Especially since I have my Facebook account connected to my Instagram. I’m inactive on Facebook, but Meta could be using the behavior data they’ve gathered from my activity on Instagram and applying it to Facebook as well.
9:00 a.m.: While eating breakfast, I watched a sports debate show called First Take on ESPN through my Hulu account. Hulu, like every streaming service, is constantly using the data they’ve collected on your account to recommend shows and movies for you to watch. Hulu could use the fact that I watched a sports show to push more sports related content like athlete documentaries.
Later, I started to see live games under a “Sports for You” tab:
10:30 a.m.: On my way to work, I played music in the car through Apple Music. I’ve allowed Apple Music to periodically check the contacts on my devices to recommend me people to follow. I’ve also turned on “Allow Finding by Apple ID”, so if someone has my phone number or email address, they may be recommended to follow my profile.
5:00 pm: After work, I went to the gym. While at the gym, I used my gym’s official app for workout routines. I’ve provided this app with my height, weight, and gender. Additionally, I’ve also connected the Apple Health app to my account. This means that my gym’s app has access to lots of my biometric data. They could use my data to recommend certain workouts or promote specific products to me within the app.
9:00 p.m.: While scrolling through TikTok, I saved a “curly hair routine” video. Through my ad settings, I’ve allowed TikTok to show me “Targeted ads”. I interact the most with promoted content and advertisements on TikTok, and I feel TikTok combines the information they’ve collected on my interests, brands I’ve interacted with, etc. to determine what types of products will be promoted to me. Based on my recent activity, I expect to see content with trending haircare products that are being sold on TikTok Shop riddled through my feed.
Reflection:
I’ve noticed that the content I consume on most of the media I use is being fed to me via algorithms. They use the data they’ve collected to recommend and promote content that aligns with what they believe are my interests. I think I’ll reconsider the amount of information I provide media companies. Specifically the fact that my inactive Facebook account is connected to my Instagram which allows Meta to collect double the data. Data that I have no idea to whom it’s being sold to.
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