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Woman Warns Others To Be Careful After Realizing Period-Tracking App Was Selling Her Data To Third Parties
Daily Mirror reporter Talia Shadwell’s Twitter thread just went viral, and for good reason. It highlights how desperate advertisers are in the digital age, willing to go as far as it takes to shove products down our throats. Or vaginas.
Recently, Facebook started bombarding Talia with pregnancy and baby-related ads, even though she wasn’t pregnant. Turns out, it was the period tracking app that gave birth to the annoying onslaught. Or Shadwell’s absence from it, to be precise. As she wrote, this story is an “insight into how big tech navigates women’s bodies,” and it is definitely helpful to know.
More info: Twitter
Image credits: Talia Shadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
Image credits: TaliaShadwell
“So I pulled up the app’s privacy settings and noticed that while it promised not to share details I ‘entered manually’ with its third-party partners, the terms and conditions’ language cleverly avoided ruling out sharing information about aggregated data – like patterns or trends,” Shadwell explained on Daily Mirror.
This experience has confirmed to her how little she knows about the technicalities of social media technology and apps. Just like most of us. “In a world where advertising is no longer restricted to billboards and magazines, I don’t want it to become so intrusive it leaves me feeling unnerved,” Shadwell said.
“It is a no-brainer that developers and social media giants have worked out how to monetize that precious data, and I hadn’t lost any sleep over it- yet. In many ways, algorithms have made my life better, more convenient, and more efficient. Those clever little trend-sniffers have connected me with my new favorite brands, learned my style and promoted dresses and shoes I’ve dutifully then gone on to purchase. Algorithms have uncovered my guilty pleasure and push the juicy ‘agony aunt’ columns I love to read to the top of my news feeds.”
“But algorithms are rather like the body’s bacteria – you might not be able to see or understand them – but you can be certain they are not always working for you.”
This wasn’t the first time women’s health apps have raised questions about their privacy, too. For example, the video game company Activision Blizzard was reportedly encouraging its employees to use family planning apps. These programs then shared user information with the company’s management so they could see how many of the employees were trying to get pregnant.
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What do you think ?
Bunzilla 5 years ago
Yikes. I feel so horrible for the women who have had miscarriages and keep getting pregnancy and baby-related ads. That must be so difficult. My heart goes out to them.
Helena R 5 years ago
I had a miscarriage and in the weeks that followed I got loads of fertility/conception aid adverts
Load More Replies...
Dave P 5 years ago
They never "stole" her data, by using the app she agreed to let them sell her data, thats how most of these apps make their money. They dont make these apps free or at minimal cost out of the goodness of their hearts, they are money making enterprises. You used their app, you agreed to let them collect and sell your data, they did that, and then after that you got upset they did what they said they were doing.
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago (edited)
You mean written in legalese, and buried in the fine print of their overly long and extremely complicated terms of agreement? That’s an issue that really needs to be addressed, btw.
Load More Replies...
Demi Zwaan 5 years ago
I don't understand why this is brought as though it's some sort of news. You willingly provide data to an app, what did you think was going to happen with it? Are people still clueless about targeted advertising, selling data, 'if it's free, you're the product', etc?
Aubrey Oleandereie 5 years ago
Well what is more creepy when you just mention something out loud in front of your pc and few seconds later you see ads accordingly to your chat. THAT is Creepy and happened to me.
Rissie 5 years ago
The fact you spoke about it might correlate with a search action or viewing of something related. Maybe you were watching something that reminded not just you of that product, but also the social media ad manager. Say for instance you were watching an episode of a cooking show and it made you remember you wanted to buy a pan and you searched for it earlier on. Your earlier search and you watching a cooking show will result in YouTube looking for cookies matching anything specified by the paying party and if there's a match (say Amazon search for pots) show you the ad for that product. As an example of course. It works because we're not so special after all. And because advertisers know that people who watch cooking shows also look for pots and pans.
Load More Replies...
Ivy Ruonakoski 5 years ago
What I also find bizarre is if I go to an online store and purchase an item, facebook keeps advertising that very same item for weeks on end to me. Like I'm going to buy a second one for some reason?!
Rissie 5 years ago
That's just bad targeting by the store you bought the product. They probably look at cookies or interactions and products you looked at, without taking purchases in consideration. It's complicated and depends on many different pieces of information to do right. Even larger companies will fail if you used a different login or no login at all. Or different browsers, etc.
Load More Replies...
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago
Makes me glad to be old enough that all I had to track mine was a calendar I made coded and colorized notations on (they weren’t obvious, and I was the only one who knew what they stood for). I cannot imagine having an ad tracker intrusively latched onto my monthlies. Tech companies doing underhanded s**t like that only drives people back to the old school, low tech methods of keeping track of their lives. Counterintuitive, if they want people to use their apps. Stupid way to go, Silicon Valley!
Hans 5 years ago
"big tech navigates women's bodies" Whoa. This is neither a case of conspiracy nor of patriachy, so do not make it one! This is a case of low privacy standards and careless use of software. Nothing is free; if it does not have an obvious price tag, you pay with your data. To stop this, better law-making is required (as in Europe with GDPR) but we all need to leave our comfort zones and be more vigilant while being ready to pay for quality software.
John Sutton 5 years ago
Important to remember: If you're getting an app for free, you're not the client; you're the product.
A dose of reality... 5 years ago
How can people be so ignorant? These companies earn money by selling personal data. And gues what: That's openly stated in their terms! So don't complain or feel betrayed etc.
Amanda Reicha 5 years ago
About when she commented about people saying write it on a calendar; the app is more useful to me because my seizures can be triggered by female hormone changes and I have hormonal imbalance. I take meds for both, but the app detects trends over long time information and that helps me know when to expect my seizures (since my cycle varies a lot).
Tyler Duffy 5 years ago
Shes way behind the 8 ball on this. And her attempt to make it about "women's bodies" is hilarious. It's big Tech and your data as a whole it's not some sinister plan about women's bodies, these companies can predict your death within 48hrs. They know when your constipated. They can recognize depression and a breakup with your partner. Its WAY WAY worse than "women's bodies " but sure sell it like that if it gets to word out. Just hope your not ignorant enough to believe its because your a women.
Daria B 5 years ago
I have a double feeling about it. On one side, I understand the concern and, indeed, sometimes the suggested data and the way it changes can be creepy and unfair indeed. On the other hand, though, I don't think it's scary if my phone finds out about my pregnancy before I do (provided, of course, my phone stays my own private piece of equipment, which is not completely so). Anyway, my first thought was that all this data collected from menstruation tracking apps might (MIGHT) be used as some sort of feedback to improve contraception methods and medicines, and women's health in general. Too bad, though, it seems that, so far, data is being collected for advertisement purposes.
Chris DiFonso 5 years ago
Did you read the reason that Talia gave for using an app instead of a physical calendar?
Load More Replies... 
Katchen 5 years ago
She didn’t frame this as a women’s issue in a vacuum. Not many men use period tracker apps.
Load More Replies...
Bunzilla 5 years ago
Yikes. I feel so horrible for the women who have had miscarriages and keep getting pregnancy and baby-related ads. That must be so difficult. My heart goes out to them.
Helena R 5 years ago
I had a miscarriage and in the weeks that followed I got loads of fertility/conception aid adverts
Load More Replies... Dave P 5 years ago
They never "stole" her data, by using the app she agreed to let them sell her data, thats how most of these apps make their money. They dont make these apps free or at minimal cost out of the goodness of their hearts, they are money making enterprises. You used their app, you agreed to let them collect and sell your data, they did that, and then after that you got upset they did what they said they were doing.
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago (edited)
You mean written in legalese, and buried in the fine print of their overly long and extremely complicated terms of agreement? That’s an issue that really needs to be addressed, btw.
Load More Replies... Demi Zwaan 5 years ago
I don't understand why this is brought as though it's some sort of news. You willingly provide data to an app, what did you think was going to happen with it? Are people still clueless about targeted advertising, selling data, 'if it's free, you're the product', etc?
Aubrey Oleandereie 5 years ago
Well what is more creepy when you just mention something out loud in front of your pc and few seconds later you see ads accordingly to your chat. THAT is Creepy and happened to me.
Rissie 5 years ago
The fact you spoke about it might correlate with a search action or viewing of something related. Maybe you were watching something that reminded not just you of that product, but also the social media ad manager. Say for instance you were watching an episode of a cooking show and it made you remember you wanted to buy a pan and you searched for it earlier on. Your earlier search and you watching a cooking show will result in YouTube looking for cookies matching anything specified by the paying party and if there's a match (say Amazon search for pots) show you the ad for that product. As an example of course. It works because we're not so special after all. And because advertisers know that people who watch cooking shows also look for pots and pans.
Load More Replies... Ivy Ruonakoski 5 years ago
What I also find bizarre is if I go to an online store and purchase an item, facebook keeps advertising that very same item for weeks on end to me. Like I'm going to buy a second one for some reason?!
Rissie 5 years ago
That's just bad targeting by the store you bought the product. They probably look at cookies or interactions and products you looked at, without taking purchases in consideration. It's complicated and depends on many different pieces of information to do right. Even larger companies will fail if you used a different login or no login at all. Or different browsers, etc.
Load More Replies... Kathy Baylis 5 years ago
Makes me glad to be old enough that all I had to track mine was a calendar I made coded and colorized notations on (they weren’t obvious, and I was the only one who knew what they stood for). I cannot imagine having an ad tracker intrusively latched onto my monthlies. Tech companies doing underhanded s**t like that only drives people back to the old school, low tech methods of keeping track of their lives. Counterintuitive, if they want people to use their apps. Stupid way to go, Silicon Valley!
Hans 5 years ago
"big tech navigates women's bodies" Whoa. This is neither a case of conspiracy nor of patriachy, so do not make it one! This is a case of low privacy standards and careless use of software. Nothing is free; if it does not have an obvious price tag, you pay with your data. To stop this, better law-making is required (as in Europe with GDPR) but we all need to leave our comfort zones and be more vigilant while being ready to pay for quality software.
John Sutton 5 years ago
Important to remember: If you're getting an app for free, you're not the client; you're the product.
A dose of reality... 5 years ago
How can people be so ignorant? These companies earn money by selling personal data. And gues what: That's openly stated in their terms! So don't complain or feel betrayed etc.
Amanda Reicha 5 years ago
About when she commented about people saying write it on a calendar; the app is more useful to me because my seizures can be triggered by female hormone changes and I have hormonal imbalance. I take meds for both, but the app detects trends over long time information and that helps me know when to expect my seizures (since my cycle varies a lot).
Tyler Duffy 5 years ago
Shes way behind the 8 ball on this. And her attempt to make it about "women's bodies" is hilarious. It's big Tech and your data as a whole it's not some sinister plan about women's bodies, these companies can predict your death within 48hrs. They know when your constipated. They can recognize depression and a breakup with your partner. Its WAY WAY worse than "women's bodies " but sure sell it like that if it gets to word out. Just hope your not ignorant enough to believe its because your a women.
Daria B 5 years ago
I have a double feeling about it. On one side, I understand the concern and, indeed, sometimes the suggested data and the way it changes can be creepy and unfair indeed. On the other hand, though, I don't think it's scary if my phone finds out about my pregnancy before I do (provided, of course, my phone stays my own private piece of equipment, which is not completely so). Anyway, my first thought was that all this data collected from menstruation tracking apps might (MIGHT) be used as some sort of feedback to improve contraception methods and medicines, and women's health in general. Too bad, though, it seems that, so far, data is being collected for advertisement purposes.
Chris DiFonso 5 years ago
Did you read the reason that Talia gave for using an app instead of a physical calendar?
Load More Replies... Katchen 5 years ago
She didn’t frame this as a women’s issue in a vacuum. Not many men use period tracker apps.
Load More Replies...
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