Close
Search
Menu Menu
[gtranslate]

Facebook considered least secure social media site

By
London, UK
1 energy + Add Energy
What is energy?
Want to show your appreciation? Give an article β€œEnergy” and it will help us know what you like.
0 comments
0 comments

A recent study suggests that Facebook is considered to be the least secure social media platform, despite TikTok’s ties to China and longstanding controversies.

Before receiving the results from the latest tech surveys you’d be forgiven for thinking that TikTok takes the crown as the least secure social media platform, at least as far as public opinion is concerned.

Plagued by accusations of Chinese spyware and repeatedly called out for vague personal terms of service, TikTok hasn’t had the best reputation since it entered the mainstream a year or so ago.

Yet, despite all that, Facebook came out on top as the least trustworthy and secure of the bunch, beating Snapchat, TikTok, and everything in between, though the viral music app did clock in at a close second.

A new study conducted by the University of New South Wales Sydney found that 65.9% of people are β€˜concerned’ about Facebook’s security. 59.3% of participants felt the same about TikTok, while LinkedIn bagged the most confident users with only 37.6% saying they were worried.

Unsurprisingly, Gen Z seemed the least concerned overall as 36% said they were not apprehensive about security risks on TikTok.

This isn’t exactly a big shocker, given that most young people have grown up with invasive tech and obscure personal terms of usage on nearly every device they use, and many expect their online activity to be monitored. Look up any β€˜FBI watching me on my camera’ meme if you don’t believe me.

Facebook, meanwhile, has been dragged through the mud countless times in recent years.

It is considered to be a junkyard of false information, outdated content, and easy to compromise. 57% of those surveyed said they’d had their account hacked in some way before.

Your grandad is more likely to be interacting with posts and statuses than you are, making it an unfavourable platform with younger social media users. Ask anyone under the age of 25 where they spend their time and they’ll say either TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram.

This is unlikely to shake things up long term, unfortunately, though it does provide more concrete evidence that Facebook is on its way out of public favour. Most use it out of necessity as a communication tool these days – Zuckerberg still has us wrapped around his finger.

Perhaps it’s time for a new platform to enter the market. Bebo is currently relaunching in beta, with a specific focus on personalised content and profiles akin to the early days of social media.

We’ll have to see if it disrupts the market in any meaningful way, but the fact it’s focusing so much on the current, poor experiences elsewhere should be an indication that most of us are in search of something fresh.

Let’s strive for a world without fake news and hacked personal data. Which probably means we should all spend less time on Facebook, regardless of age.

Editor in Chief London, UK

I’m Charlie (He/Him), the Editor In Chief at Thred. I studied English at the University of Birmingham and as a music and gaming enthusiast, I’m a nerd for pop culture. You can find me curating playlists, designing article headline images, and sipping cider on a Thursday. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

Popular

Keep up with thred by signing up to our planet-positive newsletter!

More from thred.

The life-threatening β€˜Chroming’ challenge spreading on TikTok
Credit: Thred
Social

The life-threatening β€˜Chroming’ challenge spreading on TikTok

The challenge involving inhaling toxic fumes has gained popularity among the younger generations, raising serious health concerns among health professionals and parents. Adolescents' use of social media has left older generations, including the oldest members of Generation Z, baffled. Although every generation has encountered unsettling trends, the rise of social media has intensified these issues, creating an even bigger trap for Generation Alpha and the younger members of Gen Z. From...

By Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia
Sweden says children under 2 should have zero screen time
Credit: Thred
Social

Sweden says children under 2 should have zero screen time

Swedish health authorities have issued new recommendations to restrict screen time for young people.Β  Sweden has made a firm statement in the ongoing debate over children and screens: for kids under two, there should be no screen time. At all. Health authorities have issued new recommendations for parents regarding screen time for young people. For ages two to five, it’s limited to an hour a day, and for children six to...

By Brighton, UK
Exclusive – how Epowar is keeping British women safe
Credit: Epowar
Technology

Exclusive – how Epowar is keeping British women safe

It’s common knowledge that misogynistic violence is an ever-worsening issue across the UK and that local authorities aren’t doing nearly enough to protect us from it. We spoke to Erin-Jane Roodt, who’s designed an innovative new app that enables us to feel less vulnerable, live our lives without fear, and, in worst-case scenarios, bring our attackers to justice. For women, it’s a no brainer: a strange man is undeniably...

By London, UK
The impact of Grindr on gay men’s mental health
Credit: Flickr
Technology

The impact of Grindr on gay men’s mental health

In the digital age, it’s assumed that dating has never been easier. Yet as the LGBTQ+ community increasingly finds itself struggling to navigate the complex landscape of these apps, many are beginning to question the psychological toll of platforms offering instant gratification. Grindr, with its three million daily active users, has revolutionised how gay men meet and interact. Its design, which sorts potential partners into a grid based on their proximity,...

By Delhi, India
Accessibility