By: Sarah Jones
Facebook is in talks with various medical industry experts to test and
develop the app. The app would allow users to get into a community with other users
with the same ailments. Because of Facebook's recent privacy concerns, which
included Facebook manipulating users emotions during a research study, Facebook
is deciding to make it an app separate from Facebook. While it's not a definite
thing, it sounds like Facebook wants to get in on the health craze that so many
other companies are doing. In the new iOS8 update, Apple added a health app
that allows users to be able to keep up with and log their weight, height,
sleep habits, calories burned, and distance walked/run. Google is also
preparing Google Fit for Android users that has basically the same things that
the Apple app has.
I was excited to get the new Apple health app with my iOS8 update
however, it's been a little difficult to use. You're supposed to be able to
sync your other health apps with this one in order to have all of your health
needs in one specific location but I've been having to enter my data manually.
I hope that whatever Facebook has up their sleeve with their health app is
better functioning than Apple's. I think having a community to share your struggles
with your specific ailment at your fingertips through an app is innovative and
comforting to some people. There's supposedly also a prevention side to the app
as well that allows people to become aware of certain ailments.
The only thing that people should be wary about is, of course, the
privacy. Exactly what is Facebook going to do with the health information that
you have entered into their app? People aren't naive in this day and age that
they would be surprised to find out what is happening with their private
information. However, with the app having a community aspect to it, I would
assume the people using the app are okay with sharing their personal details to
the other persons with the same ailment in their community. Some people already
do it on Facebook, whether someone has the same struggles as they do or not.
Nothing is private anymore and if you don't want something that you feel is
super private on the Internet, like your health, then don't get the app. But I
feel like the people getting this app are going to be the people that already
share openly on Facebook and don't care that everyone knows their business.
Overall I think this is a good concept and some people will probably really
benefit from using this app to use when they need advice or comfort from other
people with the same illness.
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