Twitter is about to start checking your phone to find out what other apps you have installed on it. The purpose, according to Twitter, is to “deliver tailored content that you might be interested in.” It would be reasonable to assume that the information gathered from your “app graph” will be used by Twitter to select which ads you will be shown.
To be clear, Twitter is only collecting the list of applications that you have installed on your mobile device. It is not collecting any data that is within whatever applications you have installed on your mobile device.
Twitter will then use that list of apps to “help build a more tailored experience for you on Twitter”. It lists some of the ways it might use your app graph:
– Improved “who to follow” suggestions that share similar interests
– Adding Tweets, accounts, or other content to your timeline that Twitter thinks you will find interesting
– Showing you more relevant promoted content
Fortunately, Twitter is not going to just go ahead and collect the list of apps without telling you first. Their information about the “app graph” states:
We will notify you about this feature being turned on for your account by showing a prompt letting you know that to help tailor your experience, Twitter uses the apps on your device. Until you see this prompt, this setting is turned off and we are not collecting a list of your apps.
Be aware that the prompt indicates that Twitter can now start collecting the list of apps that you have on your mobile device. You are automatically opted-in.
Want to opt-out of this? You can! Twitter has added step-by-step directions that will walk you through how to opt-out on your Android or iOS mobile devices. In short, go into your privacy settings and un-check the box called “Tailor Twitter based on my apps”.