Better ability to collect data
Yes and I bet sadly often more engagement as well.
Definitely, especially when the app starts spamming you with notifications.
While everyone’s talk about collecting data has some truth, a big part is just because an app often works better than the website.
If you wanted to use Mastodon only through the mobile’s web, the display would be messed up (because of the tiny screen), and you wouldn’t be able to flip between accounts so easily.
While websites try to do everything for everyone, a specialized app can do one job, and do it well.
Mobile apps can access functionality and integrate in a way that a website can’t.
Some companies simply want to be found in the app stores for marketing reasons
Apps make it easier to invade your privacy and collect data. Data == Money.
Because it makes it easier to collect data on you. Plus, a system-wide VPN addblocker is a lot harder than a browser extension.
While mass data collection is not hard to stop on website (blocking Datadome JS), it still uses Fastly tracker which even third party apps need, otherwise you cannot login or comment.
Reddit has been part of USA propaganda machinery since many years, as evidently proven by Eglin Air Force Base employees being used as USA government’s troll farms. These days they warn and ban people who call out Russophobia and Nazism.
