How Do Social Media Read Your Thoughts?

SadaNews - In the digital age we live in today, the question is no longer "Do social media spy on us?" but rather "To what extent do these platforms know us more than we know ourselves?" The world is under what is called "surveillance capitalism," where data is the new oil, and privacy is the price we pay for supposedly "free" services.

Decoding "Technical Spying"... The Microphone or the Algorithm?

The common belief that apps listen to our calls through the microphone is a "half-truth." Technically, research has proven that processing billions of hours of audio from all users requires enormous computing power that would immediately drain the phone's battery. However, the more terrifying truth is that companies do not need to hear you.

Platforms rely on "predictive targeting" by tracking your geographical location, the speed at which you scroll, and the time you spend contemplating a particular image without clicking on it. The algorithm constructs a psychological and behavioral "profile" for you.

If you are sitting with a friend who searched for "camping gear," the proximity of your geographical locations leads the algorithm to assume that you talked about camping, prompting ads to appear immediately, giving you the impression that it "heard" you.

TikTok Under the Microscope

When discussing spying, the name "TikTok" emerges as an exceptional case study. In a series of in-depth investigations conducted by the BBC, details emerged that raised concerns about national and individual data security.

Investigations revealed, according to the BBC, that TikTok uses a built-in browser within the app, which technically allows the app to track "keystrokes" when opening an external link, meaning it could theoretically monitor everything you type, including passwords and credit card information.

Reports have also shown that the app repeatedly monitors the contents of "cut and paste" on users' phones, a vulnerability that could expose sensitive information from other applications.

The BBC's investigations focused on the relationship between the Chinese company "ByteDance" and the government in Beijing. Despite the company's repeated denials, investigative reports have confirmed that staff within China have access to data from users in the West, leading to the app being banned on government officials' phones in several countries.

Data Collection Mechanisms... "Digital Soul"

Platforms use four axes to collect your data and build your "digital twin":

1- Tracking Pixels: Invisible codes planted by Facebook and Google on millions of websites. When shopping at a clothing store, this code sends a signal to the platform to know exactly what you put in the shopping cart and did not buy.

2- Social Mapping: The algorithm knows your friends, family, and their interests. It predicts your needs based on the behavior of those around you.

3- Metadata Analysis: Even if you do not publish content, the platform knows the type of phone you have, the strength of your signal, your battery level, and the Wi-Fi network you are using, providing enough information to determine your social class and precise location.

4- Data Brokers: Platforms purchase massive amounts of data from external sources regarding your medical records, supermarket purchases, and credit history to integrate into your advertising profile.

Is Privacy Possible Today?

The bitter truth is that sacrificing privacy has become an unwritten "social contract" for participating in modern life. However, awareness is the primary weapon; techniques such as "App Tracking Transparency" on iPhone and using encrypted browsers help reduce the volume of leaked data.

Moreover, the struggle of tech companies is not to eavesdrop on your trivial conversations, but to have the ability to steer your next decision, whether it's buying a shirt, voting for a political candidate, or even adopting a certain idea.

To regain some of your privacy, you can follow these steps:

Disable permanent location access: Make apps use your location "only while using the app."

Review microphone permissions: A "calculator" app or a "shopping" app does not need access to the microphone.

Clear tracking history: Regularly go into your Google and Facebook account settings and delete "activity outside the app."

Observers today say that the real battle is not over "call privacy," but rather a battle for "mental sovereignty". The world is not facing mere communication applications, but the largest system of behavioral engineering in history, precisely designed to dismantle psychological codes and exploit human vulnerabilities.

"Spying" is no longer just eavesdropping on secrets, but it has become an industry of predictions. Companies do not just want to know what you did yesterday; they want to determine what you will do tomorrow, what you will buy, and even what you will feel. When the algorithm predicts an individual's desires before they realize them, it does not serve them; rather, it "hires" a part of their free will for the benefit of advertisers.

Data has become the "digital shadow" that never leaves social media users, with every click or scroll leaving a fingerprint in an unforgettable archive.

The question remains in every user's mind: Are we the ones controlling our phones? Or are we merely chess pieces in a grand algorithm that knows more about us than we know about ourselves?

Source: BBC + Websites