Threads.

Meta’s long-awaited Twitter alternative is here, and it’s called Threads. Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

So the company’s attempt to recreate an online experience similar to Twitter is likely to attract plenty of normies, lurkers, and nomadic shitposters.

The new social media app launches at a time when alternatives, like Bluesky, Mastodon, and Spill, are vying for users who are dissatisfied with Elon Musk’s handling of Twitter’s user experience, with its newly introduced rate limits and an uptick in hate speech.

Meta is working to incorporate Threads as part of the online Fediverse, a group of shared servers where users can interact across multiple platforms.

If you’re hesitant to share your personal data with a company on the receiving end of a billion-dollar fine, that’s understandable.

For those who are curious, however, here’s what we know about the service’s privacy policy, what data you hand over when you sign up, and how it compares to the data collected by other options.

Threads, what is this?

Threads (Android, Apple) potentially collects a wide assortment of personal data that remains connected to you, based on the information available in Apple’s App Store, from your purchase history and physical address to your browsing history and health information.

“Sensitive information” is also listed as a type of data collected by the Threads app. Some information this could include is your race, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, and religion as well as your biometric data.

Threads falls under the larger privacy policy covering Meta’s other social media platforms.

Threads, want to see the whole thing?

You can read it for yourself here.

“We at Meta want you to understand what information we collect, and how we use and share it. That’s why we encourage you to read our Privacy Policy. This helps you use in the way that’s right for you.

In the Privacy Policy, we explain how we collect, use, share, retain and transfer information. We also let you know your rights. Each section of the Policy includes helpful examples and simpler language to make our practices easier to understand.

We’ve also added links to resources where you can learn more about the privacy topics that interest you.

It’s important to us that you know how to control your privacy, so we also show you where you can manage your information in the settings of the Meta Products you use.”

There’s one caveat, though. The app has a supplemental privacy policy that’s also worth reading.

A noteworthy detail from this document is that while you’re able to deactivate your Threads account whenever, you must delete your Instagram if you fully want to delete your Threads account.

Below is all the data collected by Threads that’s mentioned in the App Store. Do you have the Facebook or Instagram app on your phone?

Keep in mind that this data collection by Meta is comparable to the data those apps collect about you.

For Android users, the Google Play Store doesn’t require you to hand over the same amount of extensive data to try out Threads. You have more control than Apple users, since you can granularly toggle what personal data is shared with apps.

Threads, Data linked to you.

Third-party advertising:

Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos, Gameplay Content, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data

Developer’s advertising or marketing:

Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content ( Photos or Videos, Gameplay Content, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data

Threads, Analytics:

Health & Fitness (Health, Fitness)
Purchases (Purchase History, Financial Info, Payment Info, Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos, Audio Data, Gameplay Content, Customer Support, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Sensitive Info
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data

Product Personalization:

Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos, Gameplay Content, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Sensitive Info
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data

Threads, App functionality:

Health & Fitness (Health, Fitness)
Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Payment Info, Credit Info, Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Emails or Text Messages, Photos or Videos, Audio Data, Gameplay Content, Customer Support, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Sensitive Info
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data

Other purposes:

Purchases (Purchase History)
Financial Info (Other Financial Info)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos, Gameplay Content, Customer Support, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data)
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)
Other Data.

What about Twitter?

It may seem like Threads collects a ton of personal data. (Because it does!) For more context, let’s go over what Twitter asks for as well.

Twitter (Android, Apple) keeps plenty of data that’s linked to users and used to track you, like your purchase history and browsing history.

With that in mind, the app does not list “sensitive information” as one of the disclosed categories of data collection. Check out its full privacy policy for an in-depth breakdown.

Below is all the data collected by Twitter that’s mentioned in the App Store.  (Escaped from Apple’s walled garden? The Android app for Twitter still collects some personal data, like your precise location and web browsing history, unless you adjust your privacy settings.)

Data used to track you!

Purchases (Purchase History)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Email Address)
User Content
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data)

Third-party advertising:

Purchases (Purchase History)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Email Address)
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data)
Diagnostics (Performance Data)

Developer’s advertising or marketing:

Purchases (Purchase History)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Email Address)
User Content
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data)

Analytics:

Purchases (Purchase History)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos, Audio Data, Other User Content)
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data)
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data)

Product personalization:

Purchases (Purchase History)
Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Email Address, Phone Number)
Contacts
User Content
Search History
Browsing History
Identifiers (User ID, Device ID)
Usage Data (Product Interaction, Advertising Data)
Diagnostics (Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data)

Other purposes:

Location (Precise Location, Coarse Location)
Contact Info (Email Address, Name, Phone Number)
Contacts
User Content (Photos or Videos)
Search History
Identifiers (User ID)

Third-party advertising:

Other Data

Developer’s advertising or marketing:

Other Data

Analytics:

User Content (Emails or Text Messages)
Other Data

App functionality:

Contact Info (Physical Address)
User Content (Emails or Text Messages)

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