Social media is a huge part of daily life for most teens. People connect, share, have fun, and more. But every single post and click you make leaves a trail. That trail is your data, and platforms thrive on data. They gather your data to give you better adverts and keep you online. Knowing what’s collected and how it’s used are key steps to protecting privacy.
What Data is Collected by Social Platforms?
Social apps gather far more than photos and videos. They record every like, comment, and share. Location data can be tracked when stories or posts are tagged with places. Contact lists may be collected when apps request access to phones.
Even how long someone spends looking at a post can be logged. All of this data builds a profile that predicts what content users want to see. These activities are regulated by the Data Act of 2025, where applicable. You like one funny short about a spud truck, and you may as well live in one now. Your feed will definitely be spud-heavy.
The Almighty Algorithm
You’ve definitely heard about it before, even if you may not know what it is. Algorithms are sets of rules or equations. These algorithms decide what shows up in your feeds. They use vast amounts of personal data to rank posts, make suggestions, and place adverts. Watching cooking videos puts more cooking videos in your feed. Watching more politics, well, you get the idea.
Algorithms are designed to keep people scrolling. They do this by giving you the content that, mathematically, seems most relevant.
Who Else Might Get Your Data?
Data from social apps is not always kept in one place. Some is shared with partners and advertisers to improve targeting. Other information can end up with data brokers, who build detailed profiles to sell to businesses. This data sharing can mean habits on one app influence ads seen across different sites. Order a pizza online on Monday night, and on Tuesday afternoon, there’s an advert with the topping combo you ordered.
A Closer Look at Core Ethics Ideas
Data ethics basically comes down to treating users fairly. Here are some of the key ethics issues concerning your data.
- Consent: Choosing to share data only after clear information. This opt‑in is like checking a box to allow notifications.
- Transparency: Companies should be open about what they track.
- Dark Patterns: These are design tricks that encourage people to share more than they intended. This tactic is the impossible-to-find “cancel” or “decline” button.
- AI Training: Posts, photos, and comments can be used to train AI models.
- Digital Wellbeing: This concept is about balancing online and offline time. Silencing notifications is a great way to help.
Quick Tips to Stay Safe
- Check and update privacy settings.
- Limit app permissions, such as access to contacts or location.
- Turn off ad tracking.
- Use strong passwords with two-factor authentication (2FA).
- Think before sharing in DMs and stories.
- Take regular breaks from scrolling.
Many teens also consider choosing a VPN to keep their browsing private. However, free options often come with trade-offs. Any tool should always be used legally and responsibly.
Small Steps Build Better Habits
Privacy and data ethics impact every post and every click. But by making small changes, young people in the UK can protect themselves. That protection doesn’t have to come at the cost of social media enjoyment.
