What do #SocialMedia platforms and free to use #GenAI tools have in common?

Too long didn’t read: trading data for access.

At some point over the past 15 or so years, we’ve become complacent with trading significant amounts of our personal data (instead of money) in exchange for access to social media networks. Similarly, we’re now accessing GenAI tools for “free” by exchanging our data (or ideas!).

And now a viral “opt out of using my data” post is doing the rounds on Instagram – even though it’s not legally binding in any way.

What happens with the data we hand over?

Good question – and one you can only answer if you’ve read (and understood) the specific platform terms. But for the most part, “free” to use platforms use the data you supply to train the model to improve results for other users.

On social media, this typically means ads for products you actually want, recommendations for accounts you’re actually interested in, and more personalised newsfeeds.

With AI tools, particularly large language models and creative generation, this typically means the data you input will train the model to give better results next time for both you and someone else. Including the possibility that your inputs may show up in someone else’s results.

What can you actually do about it?

1. 1. Read the terms of service and understand what you’re agreeing to when you use the platforms. (And then read the updates to those terms!)
2. Think twice before you input your data into the digital world. Even if you’re happy with how the platform will use it, there’s still a chance someone else can lift & shift it elsewhere. (especially when posting to your social media accounts!)
3. In your own words, please politely tell your friends that these chain letter style pictures don’t do anything.

Tell me, what do you think about this topic?

This is a re-post of content I originally shared on LinkedIn in 2024 (link).