The United States government’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a study Thursday that examined how nine leading social media and streaming companies, including Meta, YouTube, and TikTok, collect and employ consumer data.

The FTC’s investigation revealed that these platforms gather extensive data, often from data brokers about non-users. This data includes age, gender, language, and additional details such as education, income, and marital status.

The agency noted that opting out of data collection is complicated, and sensitive information is often retained longer than users expect. Moreover, the study highlights a substantial gap in protection for users under 18, as companies continue to collect adult-level data on minors despite assertions of restricting access to those under 13.