Facebook Pays Phone Makers to Force Undeletable Apps Onto Devices
Facebook signs deals with Android manufacturers to pre-load undeletable versions of its app on smartphones, sparking crapware comparisons. Users can only disable the software, which acts as a placeholder for future updates.
Facebook faces heavy criticism after reports reveal the company pays Android smartphone makers and mobile carriers to pre-load its app as undeletable software. Owners of devices like the Samsung Galaxy S8 discover that they cannot remove the application, leaving them with the limited option to only disable it. Facebook representatives claim that a disabled app does not collect data, but the company refuses to disclose exactly how many of these forced pre-install agreements exist worldwide.
Mobile researcher Jane Manchun Wong explains that this pre-loaded software is essentially a non-functional "stub" that serves as a placeholder. When a user's phone downloads automatic app updates, this empty shell transforms into the full, functional Facebook application. Because the disabled app remains permanently on the device, it sits in a dormant state that users or future system updates can easily revive at any time.
Tech critics compare this aggressive tactic to the notorious crapware that plagued older computers, arguing it is a fundamentally anti-consumer practice. People pay full price for their hardware but remain forever saddled with unwanted software they cannot truly delete. This strategy gives Facebook an unfair advantage over competitors while stripping users of control over their own devices.