Instagram Isn’t the Only App Watching Your Every Move
Instagram is facing criticism over its new Instagram Map feature, which lets users share their real-time physical location with friends or a custom list of followers. Most people don’t realize how much information they’re giving away. While Meta says it’s off by default and only visible to people you choose, location-sharing can still expose you to tracking, unwanted attention, and social pressure to be “seen” in certain places.
While this is a high point of tension online right now, Instagram is hardly the only app that loves collecting and sharing your data. Plenty of popular services go far beyond what’s needed to function, building detailed profiles from your activity, location, and personal details. Here are some of the biggest offenders in 2025.
1. Free VPN apps
Free VPNs are among the most misleading privacy tools. Services such as Turbo VPN, Signal Secure VPN, and “VPN Super Unlimited Proxy” have been tied to companies in regions with weak privacy laws, including China. These apps often log browsing history, location data, and device identifiers. A major breach in 2023 linked to similar VPNs exposed information from more than 360 million users. Experts advise sticking to paid, reputable providers like Proton VPN if you want true privacy protection.
2. Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram
Meta-owned platforms and TikTok are well-known for aggressive data practices. A June 2025 study found the top 20 most popular apps request a total of 882 permissions, with Facebook responsible for a large share. TikTok collects location data, browsing history, device information, and even biometric identifiers, which has sparked ongoing debates in the United States over national security. WhatsApp and Instagram also share data across Meta’s platforms to fuel targeted advertising.
3. Google Chrome
Chrome tracks search history, browsing activity, device information, and more to power Google’s ad network. Even when using incognito mode, tracking continues through cookies and analytics.
4. Weather apps
Many weather apps request constant GPS access to deliver local forecasts, but some continue tracking location even when the app is not in use. In certain cases, that information is sold to advertisers or data brokers. Some apps also gather unrelated details like device identifiers and usage patterns.
5. Fitness and dating apps
Data sharing in these categories often goes well beyond what is needed. Fitness trackers like Strava and Fitbit can share up to 21 types of personal data with third parties, from workout history to demographic information. Dating apps such as Tinder and Grindr have been shown to pass precise location details into ad networks via real-time bidding, a practice that raises both privacy and safety issues.
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