The Dark Side of Student Discounts: How “Free” Apps Sell Your Data

January 20, 2025 By Johan Curtis No Comments 5 minutes

Student discounts can be a game-changer when you’re trying to make every dollar count. Whether it’s free trials, half-price subscriptions, or exclusive deals, companies make it easy for students to access premium services at little to no cost. But what many students don’t realize is that these “free” offers often come with a hidden price—your personal data.

NOTE: Not only apps but websites can also steal your data without your consent. To make sure that this never happens to you, use search engines that don’t steal your data, like DuckDuckGo. For additional security, always be connected to a premium VPN. FastestVPN ensures the confidentiality of your data at all times!

Many apps and services targeted at students collect and sell user data, turning discounts into a data-gathering tool. Even something as simple as signing up for a free app or using a student deal can expose your browsing habits, location, and even sensitive academic information.

For example, when searching for someone to write my essay, you may come across platforms that offer attractive student deals, but some of these sites track your activity, storing and sharing your information without your knowledge. Understanding how this works can help you make smarter choices about your online privacy.

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How “Free” Apps Profit from Your Data

Most apps and online services need to make money, and when they’re offering free access, they have to generate revenue in other ways. One of the easiest ways for companies to do this is by selling user data to advertisers, marketers, or even data brokers.

Some common ways free apps collect and sell your information include:

Tracking Browsing Behavior: Apps monitor what websites you visit, what you search for, and even how long you spend on certain pages.
Sharing Location Data: Many student apps request location access, which can then be sold to third parties for targeted advertising.
Scanning Messages and Documents: Some educational apps analyze text input, which means what you type could be stored and analyzed for trends.
Collecting Contact Information: Some apps gain access to your contacts, emails, and even device details to build user profiles.

These data points are then bundled and sold, allowing advertisers to target students with personalized ads. The problem? You never truly know where your data ends up.

How to Tell If an App Is Selling Your Data

It’s not always obvious when an app is using your data for profit, but there are some red flags to watch for:

It’s Free (With No Clear Business Model): If an app offers premium features at no cost, chances are, you’re the product.
It Asks for Unnecessary Permissions: If a study app wants access to your microphone, contacts, or GPS, it’s likely collecting more data than necessary.
The Privacy Policy Is Vague or Complicated: Companies that profit from data collection often bury details in long, hard-to-understand privacy policies.
You Start Seeing Hyper-Specific Ads: If you suddenly get ads for things you’ve only searched for privately, the app may be tracking your activity.

Watching for these red flags can help you steer clear of apps that put profits ahead of user privacy.

How to Protect Your Data While Still Using Student Discounts

While it’s tough to avoid data collection entirely, you can take steps to minimize your exposure without giving up the benefits of student discounts.

Read the Fine Print

Before signing up for any student discount or free app, check the privacy policy. Look for mentions of “third-party data sharing” or “advertiser partnerships.” If an app openly states it shares user information, think twice before using it.

Use a Secondary Email

Set up a dedicated email for signing up for student discounts, free trials, and special offers. This keeps your primary email safe from spam and potential data leaks.

Limit App Permissions

Pay close attention to the permissions an app requests before granting access. If an app doesn’t need your location, camera, or contacts to function, don’t grant access. Both iOS and Android let you check and adjust app permissions in your settings.

Invest in a Trusted VPN

If you rely on a VPN for security, choose a reputable, paid provider rather than a free one. Many free VPNs track and sell user data, making them counterproductive for privacy.

Use Privacy-Focused Alternatives

For every data-hungry app, there’s usually a privacy-friendly alternative. Some search engines, browsers, and even messaging apps prioritize security over advertising revenue.

Instead of Google, try DuckDuckGo for private searches.
Switch to Proton Mail for private, encrypted emails instead of using free providers that scan messages for ads.
Choose Signal for encrypted messaging rather than data-collecting alternatives.

These small changes can significantly improve your online privacy while still allowing you to benefit from student-friendly deals.

Conclusion

Student discounts and free apps can be a great way to save money, but they often come with hidden costs. Many companies offer attractive deals to college students, only to turn around and sell their personal data for profit. From study apps to discount platforms, data collection is more widespread than most students realize.

The best part is that you can still enjoy student discounts while keeping your personal data secure. By being selective about the apps you use, limiting permissions, and choosing privacy-friendly alternatives, you can enjoy student discounts without sacrificing control over your personal information. Staying informed is the first step in protecting your privacy.