How marketers cash in on health monitoring apps.
In the digital age, women's health monitoring apps, known as FemTech, are becoming increasingly popular. These apps cover a wide range of health aspects, from fertility and motherhood to menopause, menstrual health, sexual health, and contraception.
The concept of FemTech was introduced in 2016 by Ida Tin, the founder of the Clue women's Calendar, one of the most well-known applications in this field. The FemTech market is projected to reach approximately $ 7.5 billion in 2024 and double by 2030.
Cybernews researchers studied ten popular FemTech applications to understand what user data they collect and how this data is handled. After all, any collected information can be used both for the correct functioning of the application itself, and for commercial purposes, including data transfer to third parties.
The privacy of user data in FemTech applications is critical, given that it is used in the most personal and intimate moments of life. Such data can easily become a target for advertisers or even law enforcement agencies, depending on the scenario of their use.
After looking at various categories of apps, from menstrual cycle calendars to sexual health apps, the researchers found that some of them, such as Flo and Clue, can collect significant amounts of personal data. So, of the 35 categories of data that Apple requires developers to report honestly and openly, Clue can collect 13 categories, and Flo can collect 15 at all.
At the same time, despite the developers promises about data protection and security, they can still be transferred to third parties, for example, for marketing purposes or analyzing the use of services. For example, fitness and nutrition tracking apps like BetterMe and MyFitnessPal require users to provide extensive data, from weight and height to dietary preferences.
Pregnancy tracking apps, such as Pregnancy+ and Baby Breastfeeding Tracker, also collect information that may include sensitive data. For example, the Pregnancy+ app can collect information about birth plans and contractions, as well as photos of expectant mothers 'bellies, when for some reason Baby Breastfeeding Tracker collects accurate data about users' location.
Compared to such products, applications for breast self-examination, such as Know Your Lemons and Keep a Breast, which openly declare that they do not collect any data about users at all, stand out favorably.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the use of any applications carries some risks for the confidentiality of personal data. Developers may adhere to high security standards, but there is always a third party who can potentially have access to your personal data.
It is important to carefully study the privacy policies and make a conscious approach to using digital services, especially when using the login function through social media accounts, which can open up new opportunities for profiling and targeting ads.
In the digital age, women's health monitoring apps, known as FemTech, are becoming increasingly popular. These apps cover a wide range of health aspects, from fertility and motherhood to menopause, menstrual health, sexual health, and contraception.
The concept of FemTech was introduced in 2016 by Ida Tin, the founder of the Clue women's Calendar, one of the most well-known applications in this field. The FemTech market is projected to reach approximately $ 7.5 billion in 2024 and double by 2030.
Cybernews researchers studied ten popular FemTech applications to understand what user data they collect and how this data is handled. After all, any collected information can be used both for the correct functioning of the application itself, and for commercial purposes, including data transfer to third parties.
The privacy of user data in FemTech applications is critical, given that it is used in the most personal and intimate moments of life. Such data can easily become a target for advertisers or even law enforcement agencies, depending on the scenario of their use.
After looking at various categories of apps, from menstrual cycle calendars to sexual health apps, the researchers found that some of them, such as Flo and Clue, can collect significant amounts of personal data. So, of the 35 categories of data that Apple requires developers to report honestly and openly, Clue can collect 13 categories, and Flo can collect 15 at all.
At the same time, despite the developers promises about data protection and security, they can still be transferred to third parties, for example, for marketing purposes or analyzing the use of services. For example, fitness and nutrition tracking apps like BetterMe and MyFitnessPal require users to provide extensive data, from weight and height to dietary preferences.
Pregnancy tracking apps, such as Pregnancy+ and Baby Breastfeeding Tracker, also collect information that may include sensitive data. For example, the Pregnancy+ app can collect information about birth plans and contractions, as well as photos of expectant mothers 'bellies, when for some reason Baby Breastfeeding Tracker collects accurate data about users' location.
Compared to such products, applications for breast self-examination, such as Know Your Lemons and Keep a Breast, which openly declare that they do not collect any data about users at all, stand out favorably.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the use of any applications carries some risks for the confidentiality of personal data. Developers may adhere to high security standards, but there is always a third party who can potentially have access to your personal data.
It is important to carefully study the privacy policies and make a conscious approach to using digital services, especially when using the login function through social media accounts, which can open up new opportunities for profiling and targeting ads.
