Meta AI is facing scrutiny as users unintentionally share private conversations on a public Discover feed. Some individuals mistakenly believe that clicking the Share button saves their chats privately, unaware that it exposes their messages to anyone browsing the app. A recent thread highlighted this issue, showcasing examples of users’ sensitive disclosures, including confessions of infidelity, medical inquiries, and legal issues.
Within moments of signing up, many have found themselves encountering similar personal conversations shared publicly. Launched last year, Meta’s standalone AI app uses the Llama 4 model and is integrated into platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. It serves multiple purposes, from answering questions to generating images and assisting users with daily tasks.
The app features a Discover section, resembling TikTok, where publicly shared conversations can be browsed and interacted with. Many users misinterpret the Share button’s functionality, thinking it saves chats privately. Although there’s a small disclaimer and a two-step sharing process in place, the interface can be misleading.
This has led to users publishing personal exchanges without realizing the repercussions. Instance of oversharing have included a user trying to craft a romantic poem and another seeking help with personal dating advice—both of which ended up publicly visible. While there are options to revert posts to private settings, critics argue that such measures should not require users to search for privacy settings actively.
Unlike chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, which offer opt-in sharing, Meta’s public feed seemingly promotes oversharing as a feature. Originally intended to highlight creative uses of AI, the Discover tab has transformed into a concerning privacy challenge.
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