I followed the link as you suggested. I found a slight correction on the way it works.

A “shadow account” was some layperson’s attempt to describe what happened. That seemed clear to me immediately. It also seems that Threads and Instagram are much more intertwined than users expect.

I understand why this would upset people! I was furious when I tapped one screen wrong and connected my Facebook and Instagram accounts. It can’t be undone. It changed a profile picture. I didn’t quite become angry enough to delete both, but I stopped using them.

If you used your real info, you can get it deleted by pretending to live in California. I think that Meta’s compliance page is hard to find.

It’s similar on android. Most apps that use it legitimately relate to health or fitness. I suspect that your headphone example would apply to Pixel headphones, also.

Meta probably wants it mostly for advertising purposes. They aren’t exactly cautious when selling data, though, so who knows?

Yes, this is the reason Meta keeps fighting Apple and Google when the app stores add marginal transparency.

I wonder how many people will even consider the possibility that they need to check those permissions carefully lest the social media app collect health data?

They are collecting health information and a category called “sensitive information.”

Fighting to keep apps from gathering my location is old news. Many also want my photos, and I don’t trust them enough. Meta’s policy is a whole different level of creepy.