Twitter to start keeping tabs on what apps you download

TORONTO – Twitter will soon have a watchful eye on your mobile device. An app update, slated to roll out to Twitter users on iOS and Android this month, will include a new setting that allows the social network to keep track of what apps are downloaded onto your device in order to better assess what your interests are.

Twitter said the feature, called “App Graph,” will provide a more tailored experience for users by gauging their interests and offering them more personalized follow suggestions.

“To help build a more personal Twitter experience for you, we are collecting and occasionally updating the list of apps installed on your mobile device so we can deliver tailored content that you might be interested in,” reads the Twitter support page.

“We are only collecting the list of applications you have installed. We are not collecting any data within the applications.”

Despite Twitter’s promise not to collect personal data, users are already expressing concern about the new feature.

One of the issues is that App Graph is automatically turned on once users install the Twitter app update.

Users can opt-out of the feature, but they must do so themselves in their privacy settings.

How to turn off Twitter’s new app tracking feature

Android users

• Open the Twitter app
• Tap the “overflow” icon, marked by the three vertical dots
• Then tap “Settings,” and select the account you would like to edit
• Under “Other” you will be able to turn off the “Tailor Twitter based on my apps” setting

iOS users

• Open the Twitter app
• From the “Me” tab, tap on the gear icon
• Tap “Settings,” and select the account you would like to edit
• Under “Privacy” you will be able to turn off the “Tailor Twitter based on my apps” setting

The Twitter update that includes App Graph is now available for iOS users. Android users should expect the update sometime next week.