Fact check: Meta makes 20€ per month user from selling their data.

1. Summary of the results

The claim that Meta makes 20€ per month per user from selling their data is inaccurate. Meta's actual global Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) was $13.12 in Q4 2023 ^[1], which is significantly different from the claimed amount. Moreover, this revenue comes primarily from advertising, not direct data sales ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points are missing from the original statement:

• Meta operates on a "free service for data" model where users get access to apps in exchange for their data collection ^[2]
• An expert witness, Nicholas Economides, suggested that in a more competitive market, users could theoretically charge around $5 per month for their data ^[2]
• Meta has never directly paid users for their data ^[2]
• The company is currently undergoing significant changes in its operations, including shifts in content moderation approaches ^{[3] [4]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains several misleading elements:

• It oversimplifies Meta's business model by suggesting direct data sales, when the company actually generates revenue through advertising ^[1]
• It inflates the monetary value of user data compared to expert estimates ^[2]
• It creates a false impression that Meta directly sells user data, when in reality, the company uses data to sell targeted advertising space

This type of misinformation could benefit:

• Privacy advocates seeking to raise awareness about data value
• Competitors looking to damage Meta's reputation
• Consumer rights groups pushing for data monetization
• Regulatory bodies seeking stronger oversight of tech companies

The reality is that while Meta does profit from user data through advertising, the monetary value and mechanism are quite different from what the original statement suggests.