What's the deal with Twitter's data-sharing settings update?

I am sure that I can't be the only person who was severely baffled when I logged on to Twitter the other day and immediately received this message:

Pretty vague, right? I knew I had to get to the bottom of this. While Twitter hasn't faced as much scrutiny over their data practices as other platforms, such as Facebook (which I discuss in this post), something smelled a little fishy to me.

According to Engadget, "Prior to this update, Twitter allowed users to opt out of data sharing that enabled Twitter to tell advertisers how users interacted with ads for mobile apps, and share some “non-public” information like device identifiers. Now, most Twitter users have no choice whether or not that data is shared with Twitter’s advertisers."

What this means is that the analytical measurements of the ads you have interacted with on Twitter are being sent to advertisers, whether you want them to be or not. This allows advertisers to continue serving you specific ads based on the previous ones you have interacted with, as well as see things like what device you are using to access Twitter. And since nothing in life is free, this data is the currency that, as they put it, "helps Twitter to continue operating as a free service."

Doesn't that almost read as a guilt trip? I think it's really important to remember that no online social media platform is truly free. Growing up, your parents probably told you that nothing in life is free and that if something is too good to be true, it probably is. Both of these sentiments apply to online platforms, in my opinion. While you might not be spending money to use these platforms, you are giving away private information about yourself with every click.