A new report from Apteco reveals that Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, gather the most personal data from users among all digital applications in 2025.
These platforms collect up to 156 unique data points linked directly to user identities.
The findings raise critical concerns over how 'free' digital services often come at the cost of personal privacy.
Meta's applications are designed to gather a broad range of personal data, forming highly detailed user profiles for targeted advertising.
Meta is not alone. Other major applications across different sectors are also flagged for collecting significant user information:
* Voice Assistants: Amazon Alexa (115), Google Assistant (56) * Video Streaming: Amazon Prime Video (64)
* Career Platforms: LinkedIn (124) * Finance: PayPal (72), Klarna (69) * Health & Fitness: Strava (60), Flo (40) * E-commerce: Amazon (83) * Transport & Travel: Uber (71), Airbnb (64)
Such data enables companies to build in-depth psychographic profiles of users, enabling precision advertising and curated content delivery based on behavioral predictions.
The report highlights the tradeoff users face in today's digital environment: access versus privacy. As data becomes currency, users are urged to remain informed and cautious.