Weekly Reflection Post
As our world becomes more and more digitized the value on our personal data increases. Big Data is in every aspect of our lives, including our Health and Fitness. Most of us have used and currently use some type of fitness tracking app. May My Run, Nike+, Fitbit, Peloton and many others. There are personal devises we use as well, like smart watches and smart phones.
All of these seem great for the user and in many ways they are. They help us track our miles, our calorie intake and our heart rates. The provide us with goals to achieve and a digital converged experience where we can have our music, running route and heart rate all in one digital device.
What many do not realize is the about of personal data we’re providing our fitness app with. They are able to monetize our activity data as well as our profile data. Many fitness companies will use this information to better streamline and update their apps for a better experience. But many also turn that data into revenue by providing analytics companies and health insurance companies with insights into the health and wellness of their users. The data can be drilled down by age, race, gender, region of the country, world, etc. This information is extremely valuable to certain companies and we as users are just providing it free of charge. Actually, we’re paying a company to take our personal data and sell it for profit.
There are benefits to the users, better health, better insight into their personal activities and that can have many long term positive impacts. It’s just the use of the Big Data that users should be weary of and another reason personal privacy and personal data need to be a right protected by the Constitution. Some of us will be wise to not give too much information up, but the majority of the public is not digital literate enough to realize what they are giving these companies when they sign up.
seanpgriffin.com 