this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023
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D A T A H A R V E S T I N G
^ this. your browser is a user agent, it's working for you, to protect you from any schmuck who you have the misfortune of visiting. it has strict built-in privacy and security guarantees, which, while in no way interfere with the app's primary functionality, do interfere in their marketing bullshit and other kinds of spying.
with apps, you have none of that protective layer, instead there is a certain degree of implied trust which these parties love to abuse.
Maybe for some companies. For others the main draw card is push notifications and a big shiny icon for the product on your phone. Also, just FOMO when every other company has an app.
that's also doable on the modern web without an app. service workers go brrr
in fact, the same companies do this all the time on their desktop sites, because no one's gonna install kfc.exe to order some chicken
Apps without a bunch of trackers are few and far inbetween