These days, most smartphone users have at least one social media app on their device. However, those social media apps aren’t always the safest.
Although social media is a major part of many people’s days, there are numerous apps that come with their own set of safety risks. Many of them come with their own unique set of safety features, but that doesn’t mean users are 100% safe when using them. We spoke with tech experts about three social media apps you might not want anymore if you value security and privacy. Read more about them below.
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1. Instagram
Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps out there, and is a big highlight for Meta, the major tech company that owns it. Although it's not necessarily the most dangerous app, it does have some new features that can end up exposing your personal information.
"Instagram uses the locations you have given in your posts, IP address, and app permissions," explains cybersecurity pro Simon Lewis. "It is worth knowing, however, that Instagram is able to use your approximate location via the IP address, even if you do not give it any permissions. Instagram also launched its feature, referred to as the Friend Map, in August 2025, which allows you to share your real-time location with your chosen friends while you use the app, but you have to opt in for this feature."
2. TikTok
Like Instagram, TikTok is so huge that some people happen to spend several hours a day on it, scrolling through videos and watching all sorts of content. However, it's riskier than many people think, especially since releasing its new terms of service.
"The use of the location feature by TikTok also drastically changed in January 2026, when the app was sold to new, mostly U.S.-based owners," adds Lewis. "While previously it did not collect precise GPS information from users in the U.S., its new policy allows it to collect users' approximate or exact locations if you enable the app's location services. It also launched its feature referred to as the Local Feed, which relies on users' exact locations."
3. X (formerly Twitter)
X has changed a lot these days, especially since it was purchased by Elon Musk. Now, it can actually use your location for many other features, making it not as secure for people who want total privacy.
"X is less dependent on precise GPS than the apps above, but it still collects IP‑based geolocation, device‑level location (when permitted), and metadata from geotagged posts," says cyber pro Darren Kimuli. "Over time, these signals can reveal travel patterns, home/work locations, and behavioural routines."
