Most Invasive Apps 2026: Privacy Concerns Uncovered

A new mobile app privacy study is drawing attention to how much personal data popular social media platforms collect and link to users. The findings place Facebook and Instagram at the top of the list, not because of hidden practices, but due to the volume and type of data they openly disclose collecting. As concerns around digital privacy continue to grow, the study offers a clearer picture of how everyday apps handle user information and what that means for millions of people worldwide.

Facebook and Instagram Lead the Privacy Index

The study, conducted by the IT Asset Management Group (IT-AMG), analysed more than 5,000 iOS apps using a custom privacy intrusion index. This index focuses on how many types of data apps collect, how much of that data is linked directly to users, and whether it is tracked across activity.

Both Facebook and Instagram received a score of 61.47 out of 100, ranking them as the highest among all apps reviewed. Each platform collects 32 out of 35 possible data categories, including contact details, identifiers, location-related information, and device data. A significant portion of this information is directly linked to individual user profiles, which heavily influences their ranking.

What Makes These Apps Stand Out

What separates Facebook and Instagram from many other apps is not just the amount of data collected, but how closely that data is connected to user identity. According to the study:

• 25 data types are linked directly to users
• 7 data types are both linked and tracked
• The data is primarily used to support personalisation, security features, and advertising systems

Importantly, the study is based entirely on official app privacy disclosures, not leaked or inferred data. This means the findings reflect what companies openly report collecting.

Popular Apps That Collect Less Data Than Expected

The results challenge some common assumptions about app privacy. Despite frequent public scrutiny, apps like YouTube and TikTok ranked significantly lower on the privacy intrusion index. YouTube placed outside the top 25, while TikTok appeared even further down the list.

This suggests that popularity alone does not determine the level of invasiveness of an app. Instead, the way data is linked to user identities plays a much larger role in privacy impact.

Other High-Ranking Apps in the Study

Beyond Meta’s platforms, several other apps ranked high due to extensive data collection practices:

• Grab (Taxi and Food Delivery) ranked third, largely due to its access to location data, payment details, and purchase history
• Retail apps such as Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, and AE + Aerie scored highly because of spending and marketing data collection
• Meta-owned apps like Messenger, Threads, and Meta Business Suite also appeared near the top due to shared data ecosystems

These results indicate that privacy concerns are not limited to social media, but extend to shopping, travel, and lifestyle apps as well.

App Categories With the Highest Data Collection

When grouped by category, the study found clear trends in average data collection:

1. Photo and video apps
2. Social networking apps
3. Food and drink apps
4. Shopping apps
5. Travel apps

Apps designed around personalization and convenience tend to require broader access to user information, which explains their higher average scores.

Why App Privacy Matters More Than Ever

While the study does not suggest that any company is violating privacy laws, it highlights how normalised large-scale data collection has become. For users, this reinforces the importance of understanding app permissions, reviewing privacy settings, and making informed choices about which platforms to use.

For businesses and developers, the findings underline the growing value of transparency. Clear privacy disclosures and responsible data use can help build user trust and support long-term platform growth.

Final Thoughts

Facebook and Instagram topping the privacy intrusion index serves as a reminder that even familiar, widely used apps can collect extensive personal data. As mobile app ecosystems continue to evolve, staying informed about data practices is one of the most practical steps users can take to protect their digital privacy.

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