The Most Used Words Facebook Game is Testing the Limits of Personal Data Access
 |
| lavasoft.com |
Like most other Facebook games and quizzes, the app will ask you for access to your personal data. The part that people usually home in on here is the message assuring that it won't post information to your profile without your permission, essentially a promise that your Facebook profile won't mutate into a spam-spewing mouthpiece. Beyond that, the assumption tends to be that they only need data access to actually create the cloud or whatever else, but the truth of it, at least in this case, is more unsettling.
You would think that the app would only need to see your posting history to create the word cloud, but it asks for access to literally everything, everything you've ever liked, commented on or in any other way interacted with. Why, you ask? Well, to sell it, of course. As well as storing all the information mined from your profile indefinitely (even if you delete your account), the developers also make clear that they reserve the right to sell that information to anyone, at any time, without even needing to notify you.
They haven't sold any of the information yet, but the very fact that they actually made that a clause is extremely disconcerting. The problem is, for all the promises the parent company (Vonvon) might make about what they do with your data when they have it, none of them apply to anyone else, so if they ever did elect to sell your data on, there's no telling what might end up happening to it. The one saving grace of this is that now that Vonvon have been caught with their hand in the info-cookie jar, others are going to come under a great deal more scrutiny and new lines may end up being drawn where privacy policy is concerned.
Callum is a film school graduate who is now making a name for himself as a journalist and content writer. His vices include flat whites and 90s hip-hop. Follow him @CallumAtSMF
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info: TheSMFGroup.com
The Most Used Words Facebook Game is Testing the Limits of Personal Data Access
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, November 30, 2015
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, November 30, 2015
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.