Facebook Holds Onto Your Data for Months: Social Media Security Risk Ranking Reveals Top Data Hogs

A recent study conducted by Incogni, an organization specializing in personal data removal, has ranked social media platforms based on their data security practices. The study reveals that less popular platforms often outperform major social media giants in terms of data security, raising questions about the practices of popular platforms and the safety of user data.

Facebook Holds Onto Your Data for Months

Facebook, the platform with the longest data retention policy, stores user data for a staggering 180 days or six months after an account is deleted. In contrast, Telegram only retains user data for one day after deletion. Incogni warns that Facebook's practices could expose user data to breaches or theft, including photos, videos, messages, financial information, and health data.

Besides Facebook, platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and Discord also store user data for up to six months after account deletion. "Users might be shocked to learn that some social media platforms keep their data for six months after they delete their accounts," said Darius Belejevas, a data privacy expert and head of Incogni. "This raises serious questions about what happens to that data, whether it's sold to third parties, and whether people could unknowingly be caught in data breaches, even after they think they've severed ties with a platform."

Other platforms, including WhatsApp, Twitch, and Reddit, store data for up to 90 days, Snapchat for 60 days, TikTok and X (Twitter) for 30 days, and LinkedIn and Pinterest for less than a month.

Complex Data Deletion Processes

Some platforms also have complicated data deletion mechanisms, particularly if users want to completely erase their data. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger require six steps to delete an account, while TikTok, Telegram, and Discord only need two.

Since 2012, LinkedIn has suffered four data breaches, followed by X (Twitter) and Facebook with two breaches each. Incogni didn't provide details about the specific breaches for each platform.

LinkedIn also scored poorly in terms of transparency, which measures how much user data is accessible to governments and how easy it is for users to access certain features and information.

Social Media Security Risk Ranking

Based on these criteria, Incogni ranked 15 popular social media platforms based on their data security risk. The higher the score, the greater the data security risk:

1. Facebook: 18.98 points
2. Facebook Messenger: 16.51 points
3. LinkedIn: 16.13 points
4. Instagram: 15.84 points
5. X (Twitter): 15.20 points
6. TikTok: 14.25 points
7. YouTube: 13.64 points
8. WhatsApp: 13.01 points
9. Twitch: 11.05 points
10. Telegram: 10.93 points
11. Quora: 10.60 points
12. Discord: 10.50 points
13. Pinterest: 10.49 points
14. Snapchat: 9.99 points
15. Reddit: 8.9 points

Which social media platforms are considered the least private?

Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and LinkedIn are considered the least private social media platforms, based on their data security risk scores and practices.

What criteria were used to determine the security risk score of social media platforms?

Incogni analyzed 14 criteria, including the types of data collected and stored, user control over their data, the number of government fines and data breaches experienced by the company, and the ease of access to account deletion features.

What are some social media platforms that hold onto user data for a longer time after account deletion?

Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and Discord all hold onto user data for up to six months after account deletion.

Which platform holds onto user data for the longest time after account deletion?

Facebook holds onto user data for the longest time, keeping it for 180 days or six months after an account is deleted.

Which platform has the most complicated data deletion process?

Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger require six steps to delete an account, while TikTok, Telegram, and Discord only need two.

What are some more private social media alternatives mentioned in the article?

Mastodon, Nostr, and Matrix are mentioned as more private social media alternatives that offer better social experiences, are ad-free, and are more protective of user privacy.

More Private Social Media Alternatives

Incogni concludes that popular social media platforms generally offer less privacy regarding user data. However, they also acknowledge the existence of more private alternatives, like Mastodon, Nostr, and Matrix, which provide better social experiences, are ad-free, and prioritize user privacy. Although these platforms haven't reached the popularity of mainstream platforms, they could be appealing options for users who value data privacy.