Facebook Will Now Pay Users To Access Their Private App-Related Data – Why Facebook Is Doing This?

Facebook which was once the most downloaded mobile app is now facing tough competition from new players such as TikTok, which has caused a major disruption in the market, especially in India.

In order to help the company understand and build better products for people, they have decided to shift their focus to reward-based market research programs.

The Study from Facebook is the new market research app for Android smartphone users that will monitor how people use their phone and in return, the research participants will get compensated.

What Is The Motive Behind This Market Research App?

The major reason behind this market research is to understand what the competitors are up to and how Facebook can have an edge over other social networking mobile apps.

After installation and signing up of this app, Facebook will be able to keep monitor which apps are installed on a person’s phone, which app you have been using the most, the country from where the phone is being operated and app activity names, which may show them the names of the app features the participants are using.

Security Concerns And The Backlash Faced By Facebook For Similar User-Tracking Research App

This isn’t the first time that Facebook has turned up to special apps to gather user data beyond what it can grab through its social networks.

The most recent of the app which faced a major backlash that led to its shut down was called Facebook Research.

The app was marketed to people as young as 13 to grant access to their data usage and activity in exchange payment.

Having learned from its previous mistakes, Study from Facebook has a age limit! It’s only available to users above the age of 18 years of age which will be verified by referencing their age on Facebook. The participants are required to have a PayPal account in order to get their payment which also has a condition of 18 and above the age limit.

Transparancy and Accountability of Users Data

Facebook has claimed that, Stufy from Facebook will not collect users IDs , passwords or any other contents such as Photos, Videos or messages.

They have also promise that it wont be selling any information from the app to third parties or use it to target ads.

The app will be only available to people in the USA and India and will expand to other countries over time. It has also disclosed that it has partnered up with Applause to manage the logistic of the new program.They would be managing the registeration process, all compensation to participants and customer support.

How To Sign Up To Participte For The Research?

Facebook will run ads to encourage people to participate and when someone clicks on it, they’ll have the option to register and once qualified only then they’ll have the option to download the app.

After sign up, users will be able to see what information they’ll be sharing and how the app works so that they can confirm their participation.

The user can always choose to opt out of the program any time they want.

A spokesperson has declined to reveal how much people will be paid and who will be targeted with the invitations to use the Study App.