Question

what is the main purpose of this text?

to inform you that social media is as bad as smoking.
to argue that social media occupies too much of peoples time.
to explain how social media companies make money.
to explain the privacy concerns related to social media.

so, do you really know what youve signed up for when you use social media? in reality, you are the product, says technology lawyer ty shaw, or, more specifically, your tastes, habits and opinions. these websites are businesses which exist to make a profit. theyre only free to use because when you agree to the terms and conditions, youre basically letting them watch everything you do, both online and frequently even offline, and then sell that information. and i do mean everything.

whilst some people are relaxed about letting corporations know exactly what they buy and say, others view the revelations as horrifying. for example, one sites user policy states: you hereby grant to us a permanent, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide licence to use the content that you post on or through our service. and what that means, says privacy campaigner gina gayle, is that the company, can sell everything about you to anyone it wants - forever. and then those people whove bought it can themselves sell it on again. and were not just talking about obvious data such as your friends and familys phone numbers or your photos and videos, but also your so-called metadata such as when you use your account. as you are forced to let them track your phone as well, these sites also know where you physically go, who you are with, what you are doing, and so on. we believe this is way too much. if companies had asked people directly if they could follow them around and record everything they said, no one would ever have agreed. but hide the same demands in small-print and jargon and people dont even realise that theyre signing up to 24/7 surveillance. the rules must change or people need to stop using social media. either way, this wholesale spying has to stop.

Explanation:

Analyze the central theme of the text

The text focuses on what happens when users agree to the terms and conditions of social media platforms. It highlights how these companies track, collect, and sell user data, including tastes, habits, opinions, metadata, and physical locations.

Evaluate the arguments and evidence presented

The author quotes a technology lawyer stating "you are the product" and a privacy campaigner explaining that companies can "sell everything about you to anyone it wants - forever." The text describes these practices as "wholesale spying" and "24/7 surveillance," emphasizing the hidden terms in small print.

Match the main purpose with the options

The central focus is entirely on data collection, user tracking, terms of service, and the selling of personal information. This directly corresponds to explaining the privacy concerns related to social media.

Answer:

• To inform you that social media is as bad as smoking.
• To argue that social media occupies too much of people's time.
• To explain how social media companies make money.
• To explain the privacy concerns related to social media. (Correct answer)