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Facebook to pay users for their private data

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Jenna Delport
Jenna Delport
I’m a tech writer, world traveller, avocado-eater and dog lover, not always in that order.

Facebook launched a brand new app on Monday 25 November 2019. The app, Viewpoints, essentially pays users for partaking in market research and surveys.

UNPOPULAR OPINION_ Facebook doesn’t want to read your mind
Facebook has released a new app that pays users to participate in surveys and market research.

“Today, we’re introducing Facebook Viewpoints, a new market research app that rewards people for participating in surveys, tasks and research,” says the social media giant in an official statement. “We believe the best way to make products better is to get insights directly from people who use them. We’ll use these insights to improve products like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Portal and Oculus, and to benefit the broader community.”

According to the company, after setting up a Viewpoints profile, users will be ‘invited to join programs. Before each program, [Facebook will] explain what information will be collected, how it will be used and how many points’ they’ll receive for completing the program.

“When you join Facebook Viewpoints, we’ll ask for information like your name, email address, country of residence, date of birth and gender. We may ask you to share additional information, like your location, to qualify you for individual programs.”

“Before you begin any program, we’ll let you know how the information you provide through that program will be used.”

“We won’t sell your information from this app to third parties. We also won’t publicly share your Facebook Viewpoints activity on Facebook or on other accounts you’ve linked without your permission. And you can end your participation at any time.”

The company then went on to say that they will let users know how many points are needed to secure a payment, once that amount is reached, Facebook will send the money directly to the user’s PayPal account.

Since launching yesterday, Facebook has already unveiled its first program – a Well-Being Survey designed to “better understand how the use of social media like Facebook can impact people’s well-being”.

The company hopes that the information collected will help it to “build better products that aim to limit the negative impacts of social media and enhance the benefits”.

Viewpoints is currently only available to people in the US aged above 18 years – however, Facebook is looking at taking the app worldwide in 2020.

Edited by Jenna Delport

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