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minutillo · 2 years ago
Oh god, why am I about to defend zucc? Anyway this article seems to be 100% wrong.

1-5: True but not dark patterns. Yes they are using the IG user base to bootstrap the threads user base. So what? Was it a dark pattern when google came out with docs and everybody already had an account?

6: Come on, threads asks for permission to send notifications just like every other app, and sends them at a very normal frequency for a social app, in fact if anything a bit less than IG, twitter, etc. Just say no when it asks for permission. Not a dark pattern.

7: Also not a dark pattern. Yes I'm sure the app reported that I liked a picture of a prothonotary warbler to the facebook ad targeting mainframe. Senator, we run ads.

8: As far as I can tell completely wrong. Threads doesn't have access to my location, health data, or financial data?!

9: Right, you can't use threads unless you have threads. Your FOMO is not a dark pattern.

10: False, there is a read-only website. It is very limited but it supports permalinks to threads, and from there you can navigate to user profiles, other threads, etc.

11: Not even wrong, just speculation.

autoexec · 2 years ago
> 8: As far as I can tell completely wrong. Threads doesn't have access to my location, health data, or financial data?!

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

    Health & Fitness
    Purchases
    Financial Info
    Location
    Contact Info
    Contacts
    User Content
    Search History
    Browsing History
    Identifiers
    Usage Data
    Sensitive Info
    Diagnostics
    Other Data

source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/threads-an-instagram-app/id644...

mysticllama · 2 years ago
I think his original statement is still correct -- Threads only requests device permissions for notifications, it isn't collecting "location, health data, or financial data" from your device.

The App Store disclosure you're referencing means these data can be aggregated and associated with your identity, but that's just the nature of using any social media app that serves ads these days.

minutillo · 2 years ago
Previous discussion on this topic:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36640720

kedean · 2 years ago
Most of these can be lumped under "I don't like vertical integration". Which to be fair, neither do I, but it's a bit of a misuse of the term to call most of these dark patterns. They mostly fall into the category of things that they were obviously always going to do, because no manager could defend not doing them (imagine someone trying to defend making a brand new account system for this)
gorlilla · 2 years ago
You wouldn't make a brand new account system. You'd adopt OAuth login that keeps the accounts linked but still technically separate.

If i login to all services using my 'meta' oauth, it'd make sense that i lose everything that was under that master account. The inverse should never be true, a linked account should be severable if it is the child.

This is absolutely a dark pattern in that context.

sdflhasjd · 2 years ago
> 10: False, there is a read-only website. It is very limited but it supports permalinks to threads, and from there you can navigate to user profiles, other threads, etc.

I keep hearing this, but I've literally never seen it. threads.net just gives me a "download the app" landing page with a QR code.

minutillo · 2 years ago
nunez · 2 years ago
Losing your IG account if you delete your Threads account is a dark pattern. Not even sure how that's legal?

Also, that permission list is insanely long. Why tf does a social media app need access to my health data?

Dead Comment

schnable · 2 years ago
Basically can summarize as "Threads uses your Instagram identity."
gorlilla · 2 years ago
More aptly:

They're intrinsically linked and therefore inherently the same account.

engineer_22 · 2 years ago
Ok, so it's actually just 1 dark pattern - it's tied to Instagram.
ROTMetro · 2 years ago
At least they let you delete you account, unlike Hacker News.