What Social Media Really Takes From You (It’s Not Just Your Time)
We all know social media can be a huge time-suck. You hop on to check one post, and before you know it, you’ve spent an hour scrolling through memes or watching videos of cute dogs. But have you ever stopped to think about what else these platforms are taking from you? Spoiler: It’s not just your time—it’s your data.
Let’s break it down in plain terms.
What Are Social Media Platforms Collecting About You?
When you use apps like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter), they’re not just keeping track of what you post. They’re quietly gathering tons of information about you. Here’s the kind of stuff they’re watching:
What You Do: Every like, comment, share, and even how long you hover over a post gets recorded. Stopped to watch a video for 10 seconds? They know. Skipped over something? They know that too.
Who You Are: They’ve got your name, age, gender, and location. If you let them, they’ll also track your GPS, your browsing history, and even where you go in real life.
What You Like (or Don’t Like): Based on what you interact with, they figure out your favorite hobbies, political views, shopping habits, and even your personality. Yes, they can guess if you’re more of a dog person or a cat person.
Your Devices: These apps know what kind of phone or computer you’re using, what apps are installed, and even your battery level. Creepy, right?
What Do They Do With All That Info?
Okay, so why do they care about what kind of coffee you like or which memes make you laugh? The short answer: money.
They Show You Stuff to Keep You Hooked: Social media platforms want you to spend as much time as possible scrolling. The more you interact, the more ads they can show you. That’s why your feed feels like it “just gets you”—it’s all designed to keep you engaged.
(Wired)
They Sell Your Attention to Advertisers: Companies pay big bucks to target people like you. Ever mention something like “vacation ideas” and then suddenly see ads for luggage? That’s no coincidence.
They Guess What You’ll Do Next: These platforms use your data to predict what you might buy, click on, or even believe. It’s like they know what you’ll do before you do it.
(SSRN)
How Much Is Your Data Worth?
Here’s a wild thought: your data has a price tag. On average, the value of your digital profile—what companies sell to advertisers—ranges from $5 to $20 per user per year. That might not sound like much but think about how many users these platforms have. Multiply that by billions, and it’s easy to see why these companies are some of the richest in the world.
Some data points are worth more than others. For example:
Health Data: Information about your health concerns or fitness habits can be sold for a premium.
Financial Data: Details about your spending habits, income level, or creditworthiness are goldmines for advertisers.
Behavioral Data: Insights into your personality, interests, and routines are highly valuable for targeted ads.
So every time you scroll, like, or share, you’re adding a little more value to these companies’ bottom lines—without seeing a penny yourself.
Why Should You Care?
At first, it might not seem like a big deal. So what if they know you love pineapple pizza or spend too much time watching cat videos? The problem is, all this data can be used to:
Target You: Not just for ads, but for influencing your opinions. For example, showing certain news stories to push a political agenda.
(IACIS)
Sell Your Profile: Even if your name isn’t attached, companies can sell the data they’ve collected about people like you.
Manipulate Your Mood: Ever noticed how you keep getting shown things that make you feel a certain way? That’s not random.
(Wired)
How Can You Protect Yourself?
You don’t have to ditch social media entirely, but here are a few simple ways to take back some control:
Check Your Privacy Settings: Make sure you’re sharing as little as possible by limiting who sees your posts and disabling unnecessary permissions like location tracking.
Think Before You Click: Every interaction teaches the algorithm something about you, so be mindful of what you like, share, or engage with—especially quizzes or ads.
Use Tools That Block Trackers: Privacy-focused browsers or ad blockers can help minimize data collection as you browse, keeping your activity harder to trace. Consider using a browser like Firefox instead of Chrome.
Log Out Sometimes: Staying logged in allows constant tracking, so logging out or using private browsing modes can reduce how much these platforms collect.
(ERIC)
Ready to Reclaim Your Digital Privacy?
Now that you know just how much social media platforms take from you, the question is: Are you willing to change your habits and stand up for your privacy? It’s not just about protecting your data—it’s about taking back control from companies that profit off your every click.
Towne Techs is here to help you start that journey. With our Digital Footprint Review, we’ll show you exactly what these platforms know about you and guide you through making smarter privacy choices.
Schedule a consultation below.