SHARE
Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp

Selling You on Facebook

Wall Street Journal: Even if you’re very careful about which apps you use on Facebook, companies may be learning personal information about you through the apps your friends use. After examining the 100 most popular Facebook apps, the Wall Street Journal “found that some seek the email addresses, current location and sexual preference, among other […]

Apr 9, 2012
Datamation content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Wall Street Journal: Even if you’re very careful about which apps you use on Facebook, companies may be learning personal information about you through the apps your friends use. After examining the 100 most popular Facebook apps, the Wall Street Journal “found that some seek the email addresses, current location and sexual preference, among other details, not only of app users but also of their Facebook friends.” It added, “Facebook requires apps to ask permission before accessing a user’s personal details. However, a user’s friends aren’t notified if information about them is used by a friend’s app.”

The article notes that although Facebook is “free,” users pay for the social networking service by allowing the company and its advertisers to have access to their personal information.

  SEE ALL
ARTICLES
 

Recommended for you...

What Is Sentiment Analysis? Essential Guide
11 Top Data Collection Trends Emerging In 2024
Kaye Timonera
Feb 8, 2024
6 Top Data Classification Trends
Avya Chaudhary
Oct 13, 2023
7 Data Management Trends: The Future of Data Management
Mary Shacklett
Aug 2, 2023
Datamation Logo

Datamation is the leading industry resource for B2B data professionals and technology buyers. Datamation's focus is on providing insight into the latest trends and innovation in AI, data security, big data, and more, along with in-depth product recommendations and comparisons. More than 1.7M users gain insight and guidance from Datamation every year.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.