Part of the problem is how the TOS is deliberately obscure long form text while the UI (which does not make the data sharing explicit) is nice, polished and A/B tested for maximum engagement [0].
Were the same information design effort applied to explaining the data collection and sharing, all users would at least know what is happening.
Most users should know/intuit how this pervasive data collection/sharing can have unwanted side effects, even without such nicely designed explanations, but one of the most effective rules of UX is don't make me think.
[0]: "Frictionless" in practice means "don't wait, start using this now and only think about it later".
Dark UX suggests a control designed to trick you into making a decision you would deliberate otherwise not make. I looked at their opt-in control and it is very clear that you have to opt-in.
In other words, if you didn't want Facebook to have all your call and SMS data then why would you deliberately agree to give it to Facebook with their very obvious consent form?
> Dark UX suggests a control designed to trick you into making a decision you would deliberate otherwise not make.
Thats exactly what this is, Dark UX. No reasonable person would think that “text anyone on my phone” means “log all my calls and text messages in perpetuity” despite the deliberately obtuse (and light gray!) paragraph below.
I haven't used FB in a long time and I never used their mobile app, so here's a genuine request: do you have a screenshot or some example of how they gather consent for this?
Thanks. It confirms my empirical experience that most users (of all backgrounds) don't read, those who read don't fully comprehend the information, and those who comprehend it are thrown off by cute illustrations or the urgency of what they want to accomplish in the moment.
Personally, I'd prefer the message to be split in two parts, like so:
------
# Text anyone in your phone
This lets friends find each other on Facebook and helps us create a better experience for everyone.
## Privacy
This will continously upload:
- Info about your contacts like phone numbers and nicknames
- Your call and text history.
------
(I don't think I'd have gotten FB to a half-trillion market cap.)
