Facebook is Spying On Your Phone Habits To Figure Out What Ideas To Steal Next

rgMekanic

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Facebook has a clever way to figure out what apps to build next. The social network reportedly has an internal system that tracks up-and-coming apps to decide what ideas to copy from smaller startups and companies, according to a report in the WSJ. Using technology from Onavo, an Israeli startup Facebook acquired in 2013, it routes people's mobile usage through a third party server which “gives Facebook an unusually detailed look at what users collectively do on their phones,” according to the report.

Yet another reason I don't have any of Facebook's apps installed on my phone. As well, what happened with coming up with original ideas for things people would like? I guess that creativity isn't Facebook's strong point, and it's easier for them to steal ideas from others.

Facebook allegedly used tactics like these to monitor a group video chat called Houseparty, which appears to have influenced Facebook’s decision to launch a remarkably similar group video feature in Messenger.
 
I just go on it to spy on other people as well as be surprised as to how much people are willing to share about their personal lives.
The number of times i actually post something or share something can be counted on a single hand.
 
When facebook goes the way of MySpace I will be happy..... Never used it, never will... I won't even let my wife go on facebook on my machines because of all of the cookie/tracking BS..

I had a Friendster account back in the day and when everyone I knew on there went to MySpace I said eff this and haven't looked back.

This and 2 other web forums are as close to social media as I get.
 
I used Myspace for two weeks. I messaged two girls, went out on two dates, married one of them and never used it again
 
I don't have facebook installed at all on my phone for this very reason. But they are making the web version on the phone harder and harder to use. (I guess in an attempt to force you to install the app)

I have very little installed in terms of 3rd party apps.
 
I really hate that I can't uninstall Facebook on my Note 4 because it's a standard app, I can only disable it.
 
I need to login to Facebook to delete my account. I stopped using facebook after it started giving suggestions on what photos to post. That means they are scanning my phone photos in the background. Who knows what data they are collecting while they root around all my photos.
 
I really hate that I can't uninstall Facebook on my Note 4 because it's a standard app, I can only disable it.

One of the reasons I went with a OnePlus for my new phone, was so sick of the carrier bloatware
 
No wonder I refused a friend's invitation to use facebook's Messenger by sending me a link to download that on my android - TWICE.

Chatting in person are much better than using Facebook.
 
I stopped using it when i read an article that said FB app was one of the biggest battery drainers on your phone (and we know why it it). If i go on there i use chrome on my phone and close it out from there. That app sucks.....and i hate the fact i have to use their messenger app to message people from my phone if i get a PM.
 
wow how is this not illegal???
Because you gave them permission to do it when you installed the app on your phone.

No one reads the EULA and everyone agrees to it because they want the convenience the app is suppose to offer. Don't think MS isn't doing something similar with Win 10, because it's in the EULA that they are allowed to do similar as stated in section 3 of the Win 10 EULA and their privacy statement.
 
My 76 year old mother started using Facebook about a month ago, to keep in touch with friends in her quilting groups. I warned her about privacy stuff, and I told her that some of her friends are bound to start inundating her with games, quizzes, all the usual FB crappola. Well, a week ago she admitted that I was right and that she absolutely hates it. She's not bad with computers, and she has a lot of common sense, as in don't download/install questionable shit, so I let her discover for herself what a cesspool FB is.
 
Things I have avoided throughout my internet career: Geocities, MySpace, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Gmail, AOL.
 
I think FB is the only way certain people know I am still alive lol. I do get sucked into it from time to time but then put it down for long periods too. It's a tremendous time sink and basically useless except for staying connected to certain people who I should just call and email instead. I know they are tracking our online habits, but a lot of companies are. Pretty much any company that profits from internet sales and ads is doing some kind of behavioral tracking of browsing/buying habits. And there's going to be more and more of it.
 
Fuck you guys. You're the reason my Farmville plots died and I can't buy more cows. Why don't you ever click my invitation to join Farmville on Facebook and click for help?! :D

Facebook is fun for stalking. It's one of many places where you can search and find out what you want about someone.

Facebook and it's owner are all dicks. Fuck em all.

Yea, I still have my Facebook. 90% of it is annoying BS. 10% is informative or nice to read. I'm probably being very nice with those numbers, too.
 
Fuck you guys. You're the reason my Farmville plots died and I can't buy more cows. Why don't you ever click my invitation to join Farmville on Facebook and click for help?! :D

Facebook is fun for stalking. It's one of many places where you can search and find out what you want about someone.

Facebook and it's owner are all dicks. Fuck em all.

Yea, I still have my Facebook. 90% of it is annoying BS. 10% is informative or nice to read. I'm probably being very nice with those numbers, too.

You'll have much more fun growing real plants and real cows - not to mention stalking people in real life.
 
They do this because Facebook is dying, users are switching to Snapchat.
 
wow how is this not illegal??? It's like buying a microwave and the manufacturer getting a report of all the stuff you microwave. wtf??

Check the EULA and ToS for your next microwave, you may be signing (clicking) your way into their rules.
 
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