Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Mar 5, 2022
Open Peer Review Period: Feb 15, 2022 - Apr 12, 2022
Date Accepted: Mar 14, 2023
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Evaluating mobile apps targeting older adults: An environmental scan evaluating privacy and safety features
ABSTRACT
Background:
Smartphone use has increased dramatically and, in parallel, a market for mobile applications has emerged. The business model of targeted advertisements, allows for collection of personal information, often without user knowledge. Older adults comprise a rapidly growing demographic potentially vulnerable to exploitation.
Objective:
This study evaluated data collection, storage and sharing practices of mobile apps targeting older adults.
Methods:
An environmental scan was conducted using the Google search engine and typing “apps for older adults.” The first 25 sites comprised the primary data for this study. Apps were organized by descriptive features, existence of a privacy policy, price and evidence supporting the recommended product.
Results:
A total of 133 mobile apps were identified and promoted as being the best “apps for older adults” of which 83% included a privacy policy. Fewer apps designated in the “medical” category included a privacy policy. Two explained reasons specific app recommendations, whereas the 23 remaining did not provide rationale for recommendations.
Conclusions:
Results suggest that apps targeting older adults disclose data management information. Research is needed to determine whether these privacy policies are readable, succinct, and incorporate all data use and sharing practices to mitigate ethical concerns and promote autonomy of older adults. Clinical Trial: N/A
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Copyright
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