Are Free Apps Really 'Free'?

Let’s be honest, how many of us have actually read Terms & Conditions? Most users never read Terms and Conditions. Clicking “I Agree” feels harmless, but it’s a legal act. This raises a paradox: the digital services we use every day, especially the so-called “free” apps are not truly free, and the consent we provide is rarely fully informed.

Terms and Conditions are digital contracts between you and the app or platform. They explain your rights, your responsibilities, and what the company is allowed to do with your data and content.

There is currently a problem when talking about Terms and Conditions, which is the illusion of consent. Terms and Conditions are too long and filled with legal jargon, which leads to it being nearly impossible for the average user to read, let alone to understand fully. Because of this, users might think they’re agreeing to basic rules, but in reality, they’re signing away rights. Another issue is that consent is now seen as more symbolic rather than meaningful.

When an app is labelled as 'free', the user is the product. Money is not the currency being exchanged. Instead, users pay with data, attention, and sometimes even intellectual property. 'Free' apps operate within an exchange economy that overwhelmingly benefits companies while leaving users with little understanding of what they have given up.

This flawed consent system enables companies to embed exploitative practices with little resistance. As a result, this gives companies the opportunity to:

1. Little to no resistance

2. Room to add exploitative clauses

3. A system where “consent” isn’t real

This practice leaves a huge impact, which includes:

1. Surveillance capitalism thrives

2. Personalized ads track you

3. Algorithmic profiling shapes what you see

As users, you must think critically. Make sure you know exactly what you are giving consent to. We must also demand for simpler, fairer, and more transparent Terms and Conditions.

GenDigital Says Consent without comprehension is not consent at all. Digital literacy means looking beyond the surface. True freedom starts with awareness, and that awareness begins with you.