3 Apps To Avoid Downloading To Keep Your iPhone Running Smoothly: Facebook Messenger & More

Even though most iPhone users assume all of the apps that can be found in the App Store are vetted enough by Apple to be deemed safe, that doesn’t mean tech experts actually recommend downloading them. There are several apps that can get around the rules to seem perfectly fine, but aren’t the best for your device’s battery or privacy. Some of these apps are among the most popular ever downloaded, too — your friends and family may all be using them and you may be wondering, what’s the big deal?

Out of the nearly 2 million apps you can download in the App Store, these are three that tech experts warn against downloading if your goal is to maintain your phone’s battery and keep it running efficiently for as long as possible.

Facebook

Few will be surprised to see the Facebook app right up there on this list. Facebook is one of the most battery-draining apps on your phone. It consumes tons of storage space and puts your privacy at risk. The app collects all kinds of data about its users, from location information and contacts to political affiliations and likes and dislikes. As you can imagine, it then uses this data to profit from you via third-party apps.

You can use Facebook in your browser, though you’ll be missing out on some key features that are only available via the app. But the trade-off is fewer privacy issues and less battery drainage.

TikTok

TikTok is another battery drainer, and the chatter around whether the app will be eventually banned due to data and privacy concerns and foreign governments has persisted for years now. Many tech experts recommend downloading your TikTok data before a ban occurs and you get locked out of your own content. As with Facebook, you can access TikTok via your web browser, but the big difference is that the features you can enjoy aren’t very different from the app version.

Facebook Messenger

Your typical everyday chat with a friend on Facebook Messenger does not feature end-to-end encryption, which means it isn’t as secure as it should be. Facebook could potentially access your chat and read your messages, which isn’t a comforting thought. There is a feature on the app called Secret Messages that does offer end-to-end encryption and makes messages private between just you and the sender, but most users don’t know about this setting.

Additionally, Facebook Messenger is another battery drainer. One way to get around this is to not download the app, but to use Messenger when you access Facebook via your browser instead.