What Users Really Think About Social Media: Survey Results Reveal Deep Concerns
Survey Analysis: 40 Respondents Share Their Views on Data Privacy, Platform Trust, and the Future of Digital Ownership
In early 2024, we conducted a survey to better understand how users feel about traditional social media and cloud platforms. We received 40 thoughtful responses over several months, primarily from a tech-aware Hungarian audience. The results paint a nuanced picture: users are deeply concerned about data privacy and platform control, yet changing behavior remains challenging.
Here’s what we learned.
Key Findings at a Glance
Before diving into the details, here are the most striking insights:
- 95% of respondents consider data ownership important or very important
- 65% express concern about algorithmic content manipulation
- 75% are bothered by data monetization for advertising
- 75% are concerned about user profiling
- 67% worry about content censorship
- 67% trust their own devices more than cloud services
- Yet 43% wouldn’t pay anything for an alternative (“Why pay if Google is free?”)
These numbers reveal a fundamental tension in the digital landscape: users want change but are habituated to “free” services.
Trust in Cloud Security: A Divided Opinion
When asked about trust in cloud storage security (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox), respondents were notably split:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Very confident | 20% |
| Somewhat confident | 37.5% |
| Not too confident | 20% |
| Not confident at all | 22.5% |
This near-even split is telling. While cloud services have invested heavily in security marketing, only about half of users actually feel secure. The other half harbor significant doubts — a foundation on which decentralized alternatives could build.
Data Ownership: The Clear Priority
The strongest consensus emerged around data ownership. When asked how important it is to have complete control over personal data:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Very important | 67.5% |
| Somewhat important | 27.5% |
| Not too important | 2.5% |
| Not important at all | 2.5% |
An overwhelming 95% consider data ownership at least somewhat important, with over two-thirds rating it as “very important.” This validates the core premise of decentralized platforms like Cloudillo: users want control over their digital lives.
The Privacy vs. Convenience Trade-off
Here’s where things get interesting. We asked how much inconvenience users would tolerate for better privacy:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Any inconvenience for data safety | 10% |
| Some inconvenience | 72.5% |
| Not much inconvenience | 10% |
| Only convenience matters | 7.5% |
The majority (72.5%) falls in the middle — willing to accept some inconvenience but not too much. This has critical implications for alternative platforms: they must be nearly as convenient as existing solutions to gain adoption. A privacy-focused platform that’s difficult to use will fail, regardless of its technical merits.
Algorithm Anxiety: Users Want Control
Platform algorithms that curate content are a significant concern:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Very concerning | 45% |
| Somewhat concerning | 20% |
| Not too concerning | 27.5% |
| Not concerning at all | 7.5% |
65% express at least some concern about algorithmic manipulation. One respondent captured this sentiment eloquently:
“The algorithm doesn’t bother me because of what I see — I filter that heavily. It bothers me that I’m not active enough for the platform to boost my posts. And if I want that visibility, I have to create the same kind of content as everyone else. This is where creativity and individuality start to die.”
This insight reveals something important: algorithm concerns aren’t just about passive consumption. Content creators feel forced to conform to platform preferences, stifling authentic expression.
Data Monetization and User Profiling
The survey revealed strong discomfort with how platforms monetize user data:
Data Monetization for Advertising:
- Very bothered: 27.5%
- Somewhat bothered: 35%
- Not too bothered: 22.5%
- Not bothered at all: 15%
Detailed User Profiling:
- Very concerned: 45%
- Somewhat concerned: 30%
- Not too concerned: 17.5%
- Not concerned at all: 7.5%
75% are bothered by data monetization, and 75% are concerned about profiling. One respondent summarized a broader worry:
“What concerns me is that American companies — and the state behind them — have complete access to personal data, can build profiles, and then reward or punish based on political views. Orwellian thought crime.”
Censorship: A Growing Concern
Content moderation and censorship concerns are significant:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Very concerning | 42.5% |
| Somewhat concerning | 25% |
| Not too concerning | 22.5% |
| Not concerning at all | 10% |
67.5% express concern about censorship — a notable finding given the ongoing debates about platform moderation policies worldwide.
Technical Capability: A Mixed Picture
We asked whether respondents felt capable of running their own server (like a NAS) for social media and content sharing:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Would definitely manage | 50% |
| Somewhat capable | 12.5% |
| Not too confident | 30% |
| Definitely not capable | 0% |
| Don’t understand the question | 7.5% |
Half of respondents feel confident they could manage self-hosted solutions. This reflects our survey audience — likely more tech-savvy than the general population. For a decentralized platform to reach mainstream adoption, it must also serve the 30% who lack technical confidence.
Interoperability Matters
Platform interoperability — the ability to work across different services — emerged as important:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Very important | 27.5% |
| Somewhat important | 45% |
| Not too important | 17.5% |
| Not important at all | 7.5% |
72.5% value interoperability, supporting the case for open protocols and federated systems rather than walled gardens.
Social Media Usage Patterns
Understanding how people use social media reveals opportunities for alternative platforms.
Content Sharing Behavior
| Activity | Very Common | Somewhat Common | Quite Rare | Not at All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with friends/family | 10% | 27.5% | 47.5% | 15% |
| Share with groups | 10% | 27.5% | 40% | 22.5% |
| Share publicly | 10% | 22.5% | 35% | 32.5% |
Most respondents are passive users — only about 10% are highly active content creators. The majority rarely shares content, particularly publicly.
Content Consumption Behavior
| Activity | Very Common | Somewhat Common | Quite Rare | Not at All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends/family content | 12.5% | 52.5% | 22.5% | 12.5% |
| Group content | 17.5% | 55% | 15% | 12.5% |
| Influencer content | 5% | 17.5% | 27.5% | 50% |
| Viral/public content | 7.5% | 20% | 37.5% | 35% |
The data shows a preference for close-circle content over influencer or viral content. About 65% regularly consume friends and family content, while 50% explicitly avoid influencer content. This suggests a desire for more intimate, community-focused platforms.
Trust: Own Devices vs. Cloud vs. Friends
We explored trust relationships in three scenarios:
Own devices vs. Cloud services:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Trust own devices significantly more | 30% |
| Trust own devices more | 37.5% |
| Trust cloud more | 10% |
| Trust cloud significantly more | 12.5% |
Friend’s device vs. Cloud:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Trust friend significantly more | 15% |
| Trust friend more | 7.5% |
| Trust cloud more | 47.5% |
| Trust cloud significantly more | 30% |
Here we find a fascinating asymmetry: 67.5% trust their own devices over cloud services, but only 22.5% would trust a friend’s device more than the cloud.
One respondent explained this reluctance:
“I would NEVER put ANY data on ANY friend’s/family member’s device. If you have a service, that’s questionable, but only if there’s a free tier (which I’d never exceed).”
Another highlighted the marketing professional’s dilemma:
“This raises a problem from another angle. I reach my target audience through ads on social media. If people aren’t profiled, I lose my PPC revenue, and if it doesn’t work for my clients, they’ll leave me.”
The Payment Challenge
Perhaps the most sobering finding concerns willingness to pay:
“If a friend or family member provided you with significant storage (100 GB) that you could use like cloud services, would you contribute to their costs?”
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Why pay if Google is free? | 42.5% |
| Less than $10/year | 25% |
| $10-20/year | 20% |
| $20-30/year | 5% |
| More than $30/year | 7.5% |
42.5% wouldn’t pay anything, conditioned by years of “free” services. Among those willing to pay, most would offer less than $20 annually. This presents a significant challenge for sustainable alternative platforms.
Voices from the Community
The survey included optional notes, revealing engaged individuals:
A C/C++ developer with 15 years of Linux experience offered to contribute to the project.
A web developer and marketer noted: “I see the opportunity and need for open source alternatives to Facebook and Google.”
One visionary respondent shared their dream:
“I also dream of a customized FreedomBox running on a mesh network with features like: resilient audio output that can switch to emergency broadcasting, local XMPP-based communication, and optional resource sharing for local big data processing.”
Conclusions: A Path Forward
Our survey reveals a community at a crossroads:
Strong dissatisfaction exists — users care deeply about privacy, data ownership, and algorithmic manipulation.
Convenience is non-negotiable — alternatives must match or exceed the usability of existing platforms.
Technical solutions exist — a significant portion feels capable of self-hosting, but broader adoption requires accessibility.
Payment culture needs shifting — the biggest barrier may be psychological. Users need to understand that “free” services have hidden costs.
Trust is personal — people trust themselves most, then corporate clouds, and friends’ systems least. Decentralized solutions must address this trust hierarchy.
Community over viral — users prefer content from their close circles over influencer culture, suggesting opportunity for platforms focused on genuine connections.
These findings directly inform our work on Cloudillo. We’re building a platform that gives users sovereignty over their data while remaining accessible to those without technical expertise. The challenge is clear: create something that respects user values without sacrificing the convenience they’ve come to expect.
The path to a more user-respecting digital ecosystem won’t be easy, but the desire for change is real. The question is: are enough people ready to act on it?
This survey was conducted between January and April 2024 with 40 respondents, primarily from Hungary. While not representative of the general population, the results offer valuable insights from a privacy-conscious, tech-aware audience.
Interested in contributing to the Cloudillo project? Visit our GitHub or join our Discord community.