How Your Personal Data is Used Against You: The Hidden Price of Free Social Media

In todays digital age, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are free to use, but theres a hidden price you're paying every time you scroll. Your personal data. While these platforms claim to provide a service, they profit by selling your personal information to advertisers, data brokers, and other third parties. But how much do you really know about the way your data is used and how it’s being used against you?

The Hidden Cost of Free Social Media

Free services like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok collect vast amounts of data about you your likes, shares, comments, and even the time you spend viewing certain posts. While the platforms themselves are free, your data is the currency they use to target ads and generate revenue. This data, when sold, can influence your decisions, behaviours, and opinions, making you more susceptible to advertising and manipulation.

How Your Data is Tracked

From facial recognition software to tracking cookies, social media platforms monitor your every move online. Whether you’re scrolling through posts, watching videos, or engaging with ads, platforms use this information to create a detailed profile of your preferences, habits, and behaviours. This information isn’t just for improving user experience it’s used to target specific ads that cater to your needs or desires, even before you realise you want them.

Why You Should Care About Data Privacy

The manipulation of personal data extends beyond simple advertising. It shapes how you perceive the world. By creating filter bubbles and echo chambers, social media platforms restrict the information you receive, limiting your exposure to differing viewpoints. This can skew your worldview, create polarised opinions, and even influence political decisions.

Conclusion 

While social media provides a free and convenient way to connect with others, theres an ethical question we need to ask: Is the price of personal data really worth the service? It’s  important to take control of your data, understand how it’s being used, and protect your privacy in a world where everything has a price.