While no single app is definitively "most hacked," Facebook consistently shows the highest volume of incidents due to its massive user base, often targeted via phishing and fake logins, with Instagram also very high due to credential stuffing and frequent security warnings. LinkedIn, TikTok, and X (Twitter) also face significant threats like data scraping and account takeovers, with recent reports highlighting massive leaks and phishing attempts on Instagram specifically.
U.S. users on hacked social media profiles 2021
According to a 2021 online survey conducted in the United States, 37 percent of social media users have had their online profiles hacked. Overall, 77 percent of these hacking incidences occurred on Facebook, and 35 percent occurred on Instagram.
Not surprisingly, the top three apps that are searched for in order to be hacked are owned by Meta. They are Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. These three have a boatload of info on us and our friends. But some other popular ones are on the list too and they also know a lot.
Three ended up amongst the top four worst offenders: Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. 82% of defenders who have suffered abuse online say that they have been abused on at least one of these three platforms. X (formerly Twitter) was the second most cited platform for abuse worldwide.
Using the key factors discussed in the previous section, this section identifies some of the safest social media apps.
These applications typically exhibit characteristics such as known vulnerabilities, inadequate security controls, circumvent security controls or data protection, or a high potential for exploitation by malicious actors.
Snapchat, Instagram, and Tiktok all have their pros and cons for kids, but Instagram stands out when it comes to safety. Instagram's more robust parental controls and Teen Accounts make it the best choice as a first platform for kids who want to try social media with their parent's support.
Here are some sites and apps you should be aware of.
Facebook is the most banned app across the globe. According to the study, which was conducted by Linkee.ai, the social media app is banned in China, Russia, Iran and North Korea among other countries but also managed to bring in $130B in revenue in 2023.
There's no single "Hacker Number 1," but Kevin Mitnick is widely considered the world's most famous and notorious hacker from the early era, known for infiltrating major systems like NORAD and DEC, inspiring the film War Games, and later becoming a respected security consultant. Other influential figures include early phone phreaks, hacktivist groups like Anonymous, and modern ransomware operators, but Mitnick's legendary status and transition to "white-hat" hacking cemented his legacy.
What kind of websites do hackers look to target?
Instagram. Approximately 3% of all threats delivered via social networks occurred on Instagram, fuelled primarily by e-shop scams, phishing, malvertising, dating scams, and financial scams. Almost 130,000 Instagram users were protected from these and other Instagram scams by Gen software in Q1 2025.
This is a strong anxiety trigger for many people concerned about their security, and your phone camera can be hacked indeed. Cybercriminials, stalkers, and spies can gain unauthorized access to your phone camera through spyware secretly installed as a result of a social engineering scam or a malware download.
The Most Notorious Cyberattacks In History
WhatsApp
Description: Now part of Meta, WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows users to send text messages, voice messages, make voice and video calls, and share media with other users. End-to-end encryption and user privacy controls keep conversations secure and private.
According to The 2025 Sprout Social Index™, 89% of Gen Z social media users are on Instagram, 84% are on YouTube and another 82% are on TikTok, making these platforms the most popular for Zoomers.
Not surprisingly, the top three apps that are searched for in order to be hacked are owned by Meta. They are Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. These three have a boatload of info on us and our friends. But some other popular ones are on the list too and they also know a lot.
Content is generally suitable for ages 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Content suitable only for adults ages 18 and up. May include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and/or gambling with real currency.
Popular apps such as 'Noizz', 'Essential Horoscope', 'UC Webbrowser' and 'SuperVPN' have been removed after being accused of spying and violating privacy. If you still have any of these apps on your phone, it is strongly recommended that you uninstall them immediately.
The TikTok 3-second rule is a content strategy emphasizing that you must hook a viewer within the first three seconds of a video to prevent them from scrolling away, significantly impacting watch time, completion rates, and algorithmic favorability for the For You Page (FYP). This rule highlights the need for immediate visual impact, strong curiosity gaps (questions/mysteries), fast cuts, emotional triggers, or bold text to stop the scroll and signal video quality to the algorithm, though some suggest the attention span is shrinking to even one second.
The following are the worst social media platforms for mental health (with caveats when necessary).
TikTok does not spy on users in the traditional sense but collects data as stated in its privacy policy, including information from third parties like advertisers and partners. The platform collects your personal information, usage data, content preferences, device and location data, and purchase history.