Core Viewpoint - Campus running apps are facing significant backlash from university students due to excessive advertisements and intrusive permission requests, transforming from tools for sports management into platforms for advertising revenue generation [1][4][10]. Group 1: App Functionality and User Experience - Campus running apps like Yundong Shijie, Budao Le Pao, and Shandong Campus have been adopted by over 700 universities in China, but they are criticized for their overwhelming advertisements and poor user experience [1][4]. - The apps require extensive permissions, including accessibility features, which are claimed to be necessary for tracking exercise but are also used to push advertisements [10][11]. - Users report that the apps often redirect them to shopping platforms and bombard them with ads, leading to frustration and negative feedback [1][6][8]. Group 2: Financial Aspects and Market Dynamics - The cost for universities to install the Yundong Shijie app is approximately 2.88 yuan per student per year, indicating a low-cost model for schools but a high potential for revenue generation through student engagement [2][14]. - The revenue model for these apps relies heavily on advertising clicks and user engagement, with a significant number of third-party ad SDKs integrated into the apps [11][13]. - Despite the low development costs for these apps, the real profit lies in the attention and data collected from students, as they are often required to use these apps regularly [16][17]. Group 3: Privacy and Ethical Concerns - The use of accessibility permissions in these apps raises ethical questions, as they can track user behavior and automate actions without explicit consent [10][22]. - Legal experts argue that the forced consent for multiple permissions violates privacy laws, as users should not be compelled to agree to unnecessary data collection [21][22]. - The apps' practices of using high-risk permissions for advertising purposes have led to scrutiny and potential regulatory actions against them [22].