A new study has surfaced, offering a glimpse into the practices of apps and streaming devices. It reveals which of these platforms collect and sell your data to external parties.
Common Sense Media’s recent case study explores various Streaming Apps and devices. It examines how they handle your personal information.
The sheer number of streaming apps available today is staggering. They offer a wide variety of content, including movies, TV shows, live streaming, and beyond, numbering in the hundreds or even thousands.
These apps often track or gather user data for a multitude of purposes, and this practice has become widely acknowledged.
In certain scenarios, this data collection can be advantageous. It enables platforms to personalize your streaming experience and cater to your needs.
This is evident in services like Netflix, which suggests movies and TV shows based on what you’ve watched previously.
However, the ability to collect data also implies that these apps might use your information for purposes other than personalization. This includes selling it to outside companies.
The same principle applies to streaming devices. Think Amazon Firestick, Chromecast with Google TV, NVIDIA SHIELD, and similar gadgets.
Common Sense Media decided to delve deeper into this issue. They investigated the most popular media apps and devices. Their objective was to determine precisely how these platforms handle user information.
Each app and device received a percentage-based rating encompassing factors like privacy, security, and transparency.
This involved a comprehensive 150-point examination of each product’s privacy policies, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Access the complete study through the link provided below.
Common Sense Media – Privacy of Streaming Apps And Devices
With countless apps and devices monitoring your online activity, safeguarding your privacy has never been more critical.
The most effective method is to employ a VPN. This tool encrypts your internet connection, rendering your online actions anonymous.
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Streaming Apps And Privacy
Common Sense Media examined a variety of subscription-based media apps, paying close attention to their privacy policies.
The study focused on 10 of today’s most popular streaming apps. The goal was to assign an overall privacy rating to each app.
This selection included both live streaming platforms and VOD (video on demand) services like Netflix and HBO Max.
The services were ranked in the following order, based on the study’s findings:
- Apple TV
- YouTube TV
- Disney+
- Paramount+
- HBO Max
- Peacock
- Prime Video
- Discovery+
- Hulu
- Netflix
Apple TV earned the top spot, primarily due to its commitment to not selling user data to external entities.
YouTube TV, Prime Video, and Netflix also claimed that they do not engage in the practice of selling user information to third parties. They were the only other services to make this claim.
Beyond data selling, the evaluation also considered app security, including features like parental controls.
Netflix received the lowest overall score, largely because it tracks user activity across other apps and websites.
A detailed breakdown of the scores is presented in the image below:
Streaming Devices and Privacy
Streaming devices have become increasingly popular for enjoying a wide array of content. These devices, such as the Amazon Firestick or Roku, offer a seamless way to watch movies, TV shows, and live TV.
Users can readily install various streaming apps, including those discussed earlier, to access their favorite entertainment options.
The market is flooded with streaming devices from numerous companies and brands, offering a vast selection to choose from.
Common Sense Media conducted an analysis of five of the most widely used devices. Their goal was to assess their privacy features.
The overall rating assigned to each device considered aspects such as privacy settings and the presence of targeted advertising.
Here’s how the rankings played out:
- Apple TV
- Chromecast with Google TV
- Amazon Fire TV Cube
- Roku Streaming Stick+
- NVIDIA SHIELD TV
Apple TV once again emerged as the leader, securing the highest overall rating.The Roku Streaming Stick+ received a perfect privacy score. It’s because it doesn’t sell user data or display targeted ads.
However, Chromecast with Google TV received the highest numerical privacy rating because of its transparency. Their Privacy Policy explains that they do share user data. They also use this data for targeted advertising.
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NVIDIA SHIELD was given the lowest rating due to minimal Parental Controls. It also received the lowest rating due to large, annoying targeted ads. Many have noticed this with the latest interface upgrade. The upgrade was received by all NVIDIA SHIELD devices.
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The complete breakdown for each tested device is shown below.
It is important to note that companies with both a streaming service and device received the same score. This applies to each option. That’s because these creators use the same privacy policy across all media outlets. This includes devices and apps.
How to Protect Yourself
It is important to make sure you are protecting your data when using streaming services and devices. There are a few things users can do to help ensure their safety and security while streaming. The best way to ensure your protection on any streaming device or application is with a VPN.
A VPN will make your connection anonymous, which helps protect your privacy. It prevents app developers from tracking or seeing your internet activity. IPVanish is TROYPOINT’s trusted VPN Provider. It offers easy-to-install applications on any device.
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Users can also implement various tools to reduce and remove advertisements. They can also use tools to specifically remove targeted ads on streaming devices. Installing a Launcher is one way to remove the pre-installed user interface on Firestick/Android. This means you will no longer encounter on-screen or pop-up ads. This applies specifically within the home screen of your device.
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For more ways to get rid of annoying advertisements on any Fire TV Device, use our resource guide below.
If you are looking for other options to stream live tv and on-demand content, check out these popular tutorials.
Be sure to stay up-to-date with the latest streaming news, reviews, tips, and more. You can do this by following the TROYPOINT Advisor, which has updates weekly.
This Advisor provides all the best cord-cutting tips to get the most out of your favorite streaming devices and more. Click the link below to join the other 800,000 Advisor subscribers.