Warning: Many third-party sites bundle malware with old APKs. Only use reputable sources.
Older apps lack the sophisticated telemetry and tracking found in modern versions. While Facebook has always collected data, the modern app is far more invasive regarding location tracking, contact uploading, and cross-app activity. Some users erroneously believe that using an old version protects them from modern data harvesting (though, as we will discuss, this is a double-edged sword).
Around 2011 and 2012, smartphones were becoming ubiquitous. The Facebook app of this era was distinctively different from the "Meta" behemoth we see today.