Deceptive Patterns
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When Tracking Your Period Lets Companies Track You

Author
Emily Kwong, Rebecca Ramirez & Margaret Cirino
Date
29 Dec 2021
Focus
Recommended Reading
Category
Journalist or Media

Many of health apps also have a dark side — selling your most personal data to third parties like advertisers, insurers and tech companies. [Podcast episode]

Health apps can be a great way to stay on top of your health. They let users keep track of things like their exercise, mental health, menstrual cycles — even the quality of their skin.

But health researchers Giulia De Togni and Andrea Ford have found that many of these health apps also have a dark side — selling your most personal data to third parties like advertisers, insurers and tech companies. Their research makes clear that surveillance capitalism is here. You are the commodity.