Many netizens in 2020 are smarter than ever about what they shared or didn't share on social media, but modern life almost requires dealing with these mediums in some way.

How do users give their personal data to these websites?

How can it be used against them?

To find the answer, Stacker compiled a list of 10 types of information that users voluntarily give to social media companies.

What this information shows is that everything is done online, from what is clicked to how long the page is viewed, and this is valuable information to the people who sell that data.

Protecting privacy online is an ongoing challenge, as marketers constantly change their methods and goals, and try to avoid the obvious things that consumers realize when visiting sites.

There are some of the more popular ways in which social media companies collect user data and sell it to the highest bidder.

The only way to completely unblock the tracking in this system is to stop using almost everything that depends on the internet, which is what some people can do.

But for the rest of us, just being aware of how our data is bought and sold can show us ways to keep this data for ourselves as much as possible.

Personal data

Generally speaking, any free-to-use website sells your information as a product for it.

This includes personal data such as names, birthdays, locations, addresses, and IP identifiers, as well as more abstract information such as hobbies and interests.

Information that makes you interested

How you use free social media sites gives their makers a great deal of data about which product works and which does not, and they can sell this data as "advisors" to these products and other sites.

This also includes drafting an ad that has you interacting with a post on a social media page.

Sharing behavioral data, including how you actually interact with (European) social media sites

Behavioral data

Behavioral data is linked to engagement and includes how you actually interacted with social media sites, and it tracks everything from how you move your mouse pointer around the page to which of the two versions of a new website design you spend the most time visiting.

This helps site builders develop new features that they think you'll use the most.

Information that keeps you going

Behavioral and interactive data helps social media keep you last longer, and it's the best way to ensure you see more ads.

This is why, for example, websites have turned to controversial or even dishonest content.

It can attract more attention and create more conflict.

Geolocation information is also important

When using social networking sites, sharing your location is important to these sites, and disabling location sharing on your part will not prevent them from using other methods to find out where you are, especially if you use public Wi-Fi networks.

Information about how you interact with the services

Companies want to know and buy data about your interactions with customer service, for example, or user support on social media.

By tracking how you use these and other services, the sites can help companies prepare the marketing that will be better targeted.

Social media users volunteer to provide these means with a large amount of personal data (Reuters)

Allow social networks to use your photos

For social networks to work, you need certain rights over your photos as they regroup, and the user agreements you accept without thinking include the necessary consent for these social media companies to use your photos and content.

Excess details about your personal life

Many social media users volunteer to provide social media platforms with a large amount of personal data that is not wise to share.

Information that appears because of your ignorance of your device's settings

One of the easiest ways for people to unintentionally disclose their information is by not looking closely at their settings.

Leaving your information "public" can be opened by everyone browsing these details for use in completely different types of uses.

Information to create your own file

Giving websites a comprehensive, personal view of your online life, interactions and behaviors means that your profile can be assembled and easily sold as part of a marketing package.

At least one way you avoid this scenario is to turn off Google ad personalization.