How can I review app permissions connected to my social account?

Start with the account itself, not with a password change. In its settings, look for a section named something like “Apps,” “Connected apps,” “Third-party access,” or “Authorized services.” Labels and available controls vary by platform, so use the account’s own settings or help materials if you cannot find it. Make a list of the services shown before removing anything.

For each entry, note the app or service name and the access the account says it has. Ask three practical questions: Do I recognize this service? Do I still use it? Does the listed access make sense for what I use it for? If the screen does not explain a permission clearly, do not guess what it means; check the platform’s help or the service’s documentation before deciding.

Here is a hypothetical example—not a report about a real account:

1. “Photo tool” — I recognize it; I used it once; access shown: account information. Decision: investigate whether I need the connection.
2. “Event planner” — I recognize it and still use it; access shown: [copy the exact permissions displayed]. Decision: keep it only if that access fits my use.
3. “Unknown service” — I do not recognize it. Decision: do not assume its identity from the name alone; check the details, and remove it if I cannot verify a reason to keep it.

The names are placeholders. Use the exact permission wording on your screen; this example does not establish what any real app can access.

Not necessarily. For linked apps on a Google Account, Google says you can review data access and remove access from its linked-apps page. Removing access stops the app accessing that Google Account, but may make some features unavailable; it does not delete data the app already holds. Deleting that link may require a separate request to the app developer. These details apply to Google Account connections; they do not establish what removal does on another platform or delete information held elsewhere. [S1]

Review the connection’s details and the platform’s guidance, then decide whether to remove it. A connected-app audit is separate from changing your password, and changing a password should not be treated as a substitute for reviewing access. This guide cannot determine whether a particular connection is legitimate or whether an account has been compromised. If you have account-security concerns, use the platform’s official security guidance.

Before removing a familiar service, consider whether you rely on it and whether removal could interrupt a feature. For Google Account links, Google notes that removing access may make app features unavailable. [S1] If you decide to remove a connection, use the account’s own control and confirm it no longer appears or is shown as disconnected. Keep a short note of the service and your decision if useful; do not record passwords or security codes.