In their research, Andrea Ford and Giulia De Togni observed that period monitoring application consumers valued the manage above their particular overall health the applications enabled. Most end users they spoke with see the commodification of their particular details as a tradeoff they’re compelled to make.

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In their investigation, Andrea Ford and Giulia De Togni uncovered that time period monitoring app end users valued the command about their personalized health and fitness the applications enabled. Most customers they spoke with see the commodification of their particular knowledge as a tradeoff they’re compelled to make.

Ana Maria Serrano/Getty Illustrations or photos

Health apps can be a wonderful way to stay on best of your wellbeing. They let users keep monitor of issues like their work out, psychological health and fitness, menstrual cycles — even the top quality of their skin.

But well being scientists Giulia De Togni and Andrea Ford have found that several of these well being apps also have a dark facet — marketing your most individual data to third functions like advertisers, insurers and tech firms. Their research would make crystal clear that surveillance capitalism is below. You are the commodity.

Giulia and Andrea consider the tale will not have to cease below.

Their rebuttal to all this surveillance, of the commodification of our behaviors as end users is uncomplicated: personalized empowerment and regulation.

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This episode was edited by Sara Sarasohn and produced by Rebecca Ramirez and Margaret Cirino. Margaret also checked the points. Patrick Murray was the audio engineer.