this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2023
1 points (100.0% liked)

Privacy

31182 readers
515 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

Chat rooms

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
k_o_t@lemmy.ml
tmpod@lemmy.pt
Yayannick@lemmy.ml
ranok@sopuli.xyz
1
Language Learning Apps Harvest Data (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 11 months ago by Sparkega@sh.itjust.works to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
8 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I should have known if the apps free, you're the product. Duolingo appears to harvest the most data compared to other language learning apps.

Source: Surfshark Research

top 8 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Erika2rsis@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Also, like, language learning apps suffer from the same problem as dating apps: if these apps could actually teach you a language, you'd eventually get proficient enough at the language to no longer need the app — and if you no longer need the app, then it can't harvest your data or subscription money anymore, and line goes down. So the app always needs to give you the impression that you're making progress, while actually sabotaging your learning at every step.

This isn't to say that these apps don't have a place in the language learning process, but rather I'm saying that you need to be incredibly wary not just of the privacy issues, but of how to actually use these apps effectively. If you're aware of their tricks, then they become less effective.

[–] Anamana@feddit.de 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

if these apps could actually teach you a language, you'd eventually get proficient enough at the language to no longer need the app

If it worked for you word of mouth will spread and others will try it as well. I don't see why these companies shouldn't be interested in that. They might lengthen the process and not give you the most efficient solution however.

People find love through dating apps, people can learn the basics of a language through language apps. The company wins either way. Maximizing screen time is not everything.

This isn't to say that these apps don't have a place in the language learning process, but rather I'm saying that you need to be incredibly wary not just of the privacy issues, but of how to actually use these apps effectively. If you're aware of their tricks, then they become less effective.

Good point. It's hard to learn a language and if you invest the time you'll get a good grasp on it through these apps. I leant multiple languages at school and it was really similar to what Duolingo e.g. are doing.

BUT in the end you still can't master a language without speaking it with other people. That however, is not a service that these apps can provide. They should, however, make it possible for you to find a basic foundation for communication. The gamification aspect also helps.

Regarding the privacy argument I completely agree.

[–] Erika2rsis@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

People find love through dating apps

That is part of the business model, actually: if these apps absolutely never work, then there will be no word of mouth, no success stories to use in promotional material, and users would pretty quickly figure out that it isn't entirely their own fault that they haven't made the progress that they're expecting.

[–] Anamana@feddit.de 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

But this is not a big ol neocapitalistic conspiracy against someone personally. Maybe your pictures do suck, maybe your bio is perfectly written etcetc. Many reasons why it might or might not work out for you.

Those companies are not as aware of their actions as many people think. They see 'x' happens and they might find a way to let it happen more often, but they seldom know why it happens.

Especially when it's about interactions between people and not just system-user interaction.

[–] Erika2rsis@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That is how it works, yeah. Very good point. Nobody needs to be actively malicious or conspiratorial, and it's silly to imagine people being that conniving: The most profitable matching algorithm on a dating app just happens to be ineffective for most people, and whoever happens to stumble on that algorithm first ends up making the most profitable dating app -- no need to know why it works, just that it does.

[–] Anamana@feddit.de 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yep, exactly

[–] Erika2rsis@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Thank you for your contributions.

[–] Anamana@feddit.de 0 points 11 months ago

Thank you too