Future of Social Media: X, Previously Twitter, Expands Data Collection

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In the evolving world of social media, privacy policies are constantly being rewritten. The latest comes from X, formerly known as Twitter, which is set to expand its data collection practices.

X's New Data Collection Practices

This week, X, a well-known social media platform, revealed that it might start collecting user biometric and employment data. This update means that users may share more personal information on the site than before. The company announced these changes as part of its updated privacy policy, which now has two new sections about data collection.

With users' agreement, X may collect and use biometric information for safety, security, and identification reasons. Furthermore, the company introduced a new section called "job applications," which may gather users' work and educational history.

Employment Data and Advertising

Furthermore, X stated it might collect data about users' "employment preferences, skills and abilities, job search activity and engagement, etc." The company intends to use this data to suggest potential job openings to users, share information with prospective third-party employers, or enhance targeted advertising strategies.

Verification for Premium Users

For premium users of X, the company will offer an option to submit a government-issued ID and a selfie for verification purposes. The company may extract biometric data from both the ID and the selfie image for matching purposes, enhancing the platform's security and combating impersonation attempts.

This move by X mirrors data collection practices already in place among its peers, but it signifies an expansion of the types of information that Twitter is interested in tracking. This policy adjustment comes as owner Elon Musk works on transforming the platform into an "everything app," potentially integrating financial services and other features reminiscent of the Chinese app WeChat.

Regulatory Requirements and Controversies

Recently, social media companies have been required to verify the ages of their users due to regulatory measures implemented worldwide. This has led to the introduction of age-assurance services that ask users to upload government-issued identification or selfies, which AI analyzes.

However, these new practices have been met with controversy. A federal judge in Arkansas issued a temporary injunction against a law mandating age verification for social media platforms just before it took effect.