Should social media apps be held responsible for our privacy?

Article written by: Paola Castillo Ramos

Designed by: Paola Castillo Ramos & Sanvi Desai

In 2024, a study revealed that over 75 million Americans gave their phone number out to enterprises without knowing they were concurrently accepting the enterprise to give that same number to advertisers. The facilitated diffusion of private information online consistently raises concerns on what other details are made accessible unknowingly. Privacy in itself involves many aspects. Although you may think of it as your identity, even small things such as your region, education, and relationships can put you at risk of scams if accessible to anyone online. But why is it so easy for privacy to be infringed online? And is this infringement your responsibility?

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The Responsibility of Social Media Founders

Supporters of platform responsibility argue that social media founders should be held accountable because they design the systems that collect and profit from user information. The United States’ Federal Trade Commission reports that major platformers gather huge amounts of personal data, not only from users but even from non-users through data brokers. Their business model encourages this surveillance because most of their revenue comes from monetizing user data. These companies also rely on privacy-invasive tracking tools that feed personal information into algorithms, giving users almost no real control over how their data is used. Since founders create and maintain these systems, many believe they hold responsibility for protecting people from the risks they built into the platform.

Another reason founders should be responsible is that social media companies make privacy difficult for users to understand. The Business & Financial Times explains that most people cannot give true consent because the terms of service and privacy policies are long, confusing, and often changed without clear notice. Platforms also share data with third parties without users fully realizing it. They build detailed profiles for targeted advertising, shaping what people see. These actions raise ethical concerns, showing why founders must be transparent and simplify privacy settings while clearly explaining how user data is used.

Image by Kapsersky

The Responsibility of Users

On the other hand, some argue that users should take responsibility for their own privacy because they are the ones choosing what they share online. Since many personal devices lack basic protections, users should act first, being aware and informed about what they are putting themselves at risk of. Even when a platform builds strong safety features, it cannot fully control user behavior or prevent oversharing. Research has shown that safety depends on users feeling confident in their ability to protect themselves. When people believe they can act safely, they make smarter choices about what they post. For this reason, many defend that users must take ownership of their online actions.

People tend to balance their sense of danger with their confidence in responding to it. When users feel capable and understand their own role, they will tend to make safer choices, such as checking privacy settings or being more thoughtful about what they share. This shows that apps alone cannot guarantee full protection. Even the strongest security tools cannot help someone who ignores warnings or overshares. In the end, online privacy depends a lot on personal responsibility and the small decisions people make every day.

Overall, managing privacy online is something that both users and social media companies share responsibility for. Platforms need to create secure apps, make privacy settings easy to understand, and be clear about how they use data. At the same time, users have to think carefully about what they share and take steps to protect their information. Ethically, both sides play a role in keeping people safe online. When companies and users do their part, everyone can enjoy social media more safely and with greater peace of mind.

Works Cited

• Etefe, Juliet. “Social Media Platforms and the Inherent Data Protection Concerns.” The Business & Financial Times, 18 Jan. 2024, thebftonline.com/2024/01/18/social-media-platforms-and-the-inherent-data-protection-concerns/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

• Federal Trade Commission. “FTC Staff Report Finds Large Social Media and Video Streaming Companies Have Engaged in Vast Surveillance of Users with Lax Privacy Controls and Inadequate Safeguards for Kids and Teens.” Federal Trade Commission, 18 Sept. 2024, www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-staff-report-finds-large-social-media-video-streaming-companies-have-engaged-vast-surveillance. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

• “Flat Background for Safer Internet Day | Free Vector.” Freepik, 2023, www.freepik.com/free-vector/flat-background-safer-internet-day_119588580.htm#fromView=keyword&page=1&position=1&uuid=c5d356c9-a56e-46e8-adc8-c0596c8bbb1d&query=Online+privacy. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

• Kaspersky. “Personal Online Privacy Tips.” 27 Mar. 2021, usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/preemptive-safety/how-to-protect-personal-online-privacy. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

• LaRose, Robert, et al. “Promoting Personal Responsibility for Internet Safety.” Communications of the ACM, vol. 51, no. 3, 1 Mar. 2008, pp. 71–76, https://doi.org/10.1145/1325555.1325569. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.

• PR Newswire. “Nearly 75 million Americans are unwittingly sharing their data online.” PR Newswire, 4 Mar., 2024, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nearly-75-million-americans-are-unwittingly-sharing-their-data-online-302077214.html. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.