How to Stop Facebook Sharing Your Data With Spotify

On its own, most of the data that Spotify collects appears harmless. However, when left unprotected, millions of comprehensive and aggregated user profiles become extremely valuable.

You should protect your data and limit its access as much as possible, especially when you are already a paying subscriber. For Spotify Premium users, subscription fees should be enough contribution to access the service. There is very little reason for you to give more data than necessary to have a positive user experience.

If you’re wondering why Spotify collects your data, how it does it, and what you can do to limit, keep reading.

Why Spotify Needs Your Data

There are three main reasons that Spotify collects user data: communication, ad targeting, and functionality. Here’s why it needs each one.

1. Communication

Spotify collects data to be able to contact users, for marketing, and other promotional purposes. Also, this information helps validate your identity in the case of fraud or a compromised account.

2. Ad Targeting

To be sustainable, Spotify supports artists through subscriptions and ads for Spotify Free users. A comprehensive profile on you as a user helps Spotify create ads relevant to you and increase the chances of converting you into a sale.

3. Functionality

Spotify collects user data so that it can learn new ways to keep you listening longer. It scans what you listen to and then aggregates that data with other users of similar taste in content or demographics. On the other hand, device-related data also helps Spotify solve concerns based on your particular operating system, service provider, or device type.

It is worth noting that there is nothing wrong with you giving Spotify the ability to improve your listening experience. However, the extent of data that Spotify should be given access to is negotiable.

What Does Spotify Know About You?

There are three types of data that Spotify collects from its users: sign up, metadata, and usage.

By default, Spotify knows details about you such as your name, username, email address, mobile number, birthday, gender, and address. Should you have created your Spotify account using Facebook or allowed Facebook data processing, Spotify will also know your Facebook user ID and other related information.

2. Metadata

When you are not using a VPN server, Spotify tailor-fits your ads based on your actual geographic location. Spotify relies on location data from your device connected and from your internet service provider. Apart from location information, Spotify has access to other metadata such as your mobile brand, device type, and operator.

3. Usage

Spotify keeps a log of various feature-dependent data sets such as playlists, streaming history, library, search queries, followers, and payments. Combined with your sign-up data, feature-dependent data, and other information from advertising partners, Spotify infers about your interests and even emotions based on your usage. Afterward, Spotify classifies its users into market segment types which determine what kind of ads are assigned.

With all this information, you would think that Spotify would have enough to create a positive listening experience. Unfortunately, Spotify has worked with Facebook to gain access to even more data about its users. Here's why that is a problem.

In 2018, reports showed that Facebook gave access to personal details of over a billion users to over 150 companies, including Spotify. This form of intentional data sharing gave Spotify invasive access to contact information, friends lists, posts, and even private messages.

In the wrong hands, this practice is a major threat to individual user privacy and security. Having multiple companies with access to this data puts users at higher risk of it becoming compromised.

Thankfully, after a series of investigations on Facebook’s privacy violations, access to our data by companies such as Spotify has been limited. However, this doesn’t mean that we’re out of the woods yet. Users have to take an active role in disabling data-sharing features to prevent possible data leaks.

If you’re wondering how you can stop Facebook from sharing your Facebook data with Spotify and third-party advertisers, here's how.

On the Spotify website, log in to your account and go to Privacy Settings > Manage Your Data > Facebook Data. To opt-out of Spotify processing your Facebook data aside from sign-on capabilities, toggle the Process my Facebook data option to the left.

On the same page, Spotify also has an option for you to disable tailored ads. Tailored ads are curated ads based on personal information shared with third-party advertising partners or information received by them.

To disable tailored ads, go to Privacy Settings > Manage Your Data > Tailored ads. Then, simply toggle the Process my personal data for tailored ads button to the left. After disabling this feature, Spotify Free users will receive ads based on real-time usage and registration information.

Lastly, Spotify has an option to download the data it has on you, including your usage history, payment details, and the inferred marketing segments you are under. To do so, go to Privacy Settings > Manage Your Data >Download your data.

Under step one, begin the data collection process by clicking Request and confirming the subsequent email. It will take up to 30 days for Spotify to consolidate your data. Once your data is available for download, Spotify will email you a link that will give you access to a JSON file (or a spreadsheet) with your information.

For Spotify Premium users who already pay for a Spotify subscription, there is absolutely no reason for you to allow Spotify to share your information with third-party advertising partners. When possible, it is much better to disable this option.

Keep Your Data Decentralized

With hackers becoming increasingly more sophisticated, data leaks have become more common than ever before. To keep our data safe and secure, we must always be alert and practice regular data decentralization procedures.

Aside from the suggestions above, you may also opt to avoid connecting your Facebook account to Spotify at all. One way to circumvent this is to create a whole new Spotify account from a separate email address. While it may still be possible to link your accounts with your mobile number, it will reduce the association.

While Facebook is still an indispensable social media network, it does have a long history of data breaches, unscrupulous data sharing practices, and poor security. When it comes to data sharing across platforms, you must be more discerning about you can access your private information.