By 
Privacy concerns are a huge deal these days, mainly because the more connected you are to the internet, the less it seems your data is actually yours. Today, Twitter announced an upcoming change coming soon to their Android and iOS apps that’s raising concerns from privacy advocates The problem? The Twitter app will soon scan devices to see which apps are installed. Phandroid, BuzzFeed, Pornhub — everything will soon be revealed.
According to Twitter’s support page, it’s so Twitter can better serve promoted content (read: ads), suggestions on who to follow, and bring tweets from others to your timeline. Knowing this is a sensitive subject, the social media giant clearly states that no actual data from these apps is being collected, so no harm, no foul, right? Not so fast.
Although a small invasion of privacy (one Android and iOS developers already have access to), app scanning will be on by default and isn’t opt-in. Thankfully, Twitter is allowing users to turn off the app collecting in the app’s settings, and will even notify users once they changes go into effect via an in-app prompt. To turn it off, simply follow these instructions as detailed by Twitter:
- Tap the overflow icon (3-dot menu button)
- Tap Settings
- Tap the account you’d like to adjust
- Under Other, you can adjust the setting to Tailor Twitter based on my apps
Uninstalled!
I just did it
That shouldn’t have to be something that is active upon install. It’ll still snatch some information before you can disable it, however slight.
Yep…better option. Don’t install their app. If it’s installed by your carrier disable it. This is not a “minor” privacy issue.
– find app
– long press and hold
– drag and drop on “app info”
– press “uninstall”
Why would you have it installed in the first place?
I don’t, smarter than that
I love how deep you have to go within the settings to turn it off. Enough time for them to get a lovely scan in. They probably run your phone at it’s max CPU settings too. Outta line!!
Strange I don’t see this option? “Tailor Twitter based on my apps”
Neither do I
I can’t find it under ANY settings sub-menu at all either. Strange.
The article said the feature is upcoming. It’s likely the update hasn’t rolled out yet.
Twitter? Oh yeah… I remember.
Block those effing permissions. Or better yet, get the hell off twitter and stop supporting the jag offs
I don’t think this requires any additional permissions.
I thought Android apps were sandboxed.
Never installed.
And why would Twitter do that in the first place??
Because they’re owned by Facebook. Need I say more?
You just had to bring the whale picture back
Yet another reason to never use a first-party app. I use Plume instead; always have. Twitter, screw you.
I recommend dumping the Twitter app in favor of a 3rd party in response.
until twitter uses a new mandatory API and locks out 3rd party apps from developing from it.
can’t someone re-compile the APK with the shifty permissions removed using Lucky Patcher?
Oh, and those clamoring to you wonderful innocent 3rd party apps? Your days of separation from the official app are numbered. Twitter is becoming evil like Microsoft is with Skype. First allow 3rd party access, then notice users aren’t flocking to the official app as much as they’d like. then limit and close API’s, and then “rebuild” the framework from the ground up and lock out the new API (Skype after M$ takeover ) which completely shuts out all 3rd party apps altogether, forcing all twitter users solidarity with the first party official app. Twitter realizes people are running away from the advert filled first party app, and they don’t like it. They are doing everything they can to destroy the competition.
You can run for now but you can’t hide forever.