Are the applications in facebook some kind of phishing?

[Solo all the way]

I mean each application asks for Allowing access and that will let it pull my profile information, photos, my friends' info, and other content that it requires to work.
this could be phishing. right?

[Kevin C]

That is why I never use ANY applications on Facebook. I also hide all of my friends so that I don't have to see application spam.

[Andrew Clements]

I agree with Kevin.

And I will add that those applications are a perfect way to infect unsuspecting people with some nasty viruses. I NEVER allow any Facebook, Myspace, or any other applications.

[knight]

Not all apps in Facebook are scam or phishing tricks but yes there are many of them are meant for scam and phishing purpose so you should be careful where you click.

Thinking how to tell difference between harmful apps and harmless?

Try this link http://www.thefacegamer.com/editorials/t...11eleven1/

This will help up to some rate.

Hope this was helpful.