How Apple’s Health App Affects Our Lives
Every iPhone user is familiar with the health app by Apple. It is an app that records our health data such as our walking distance, menstrual cycle, sleep routine, etc. It also creates a medical ID that contains information about the phone owner’s blood type, emergency contact, mass, weight, and everything that can save her life in case of n emergency.
At first, the app was only feeding the curiosity we had; we were taking a look at the steps we took and trying to figure out if the data recorded was accurate.
Later on, apple released watches that were more accurate and had many more features. We started getting notifications when we walked less compared to the previous week when we sleep less than we did the previous month or wake up later than the year before. It was so advanced that it could diagnose you with several diseases. After a while of using this app, we realized that we weren’t as active as we thought, didn’t sleep as much as we needed, and overall, we didn’t have a healthy life as we thought. Some tried to improve their lives and benefitted from the app by changing their habits and obeying a routine. However, some of us blamed the app for the data it is displaying. The app was either not working, inaccurate, or insufficient. All of this can be considered normal and similar to the reaction people have to other apps. However, some apps have a deeper influence on people and health is one of them. When we become aware of the unhealthy habits in our lives, we either deny them or take them seriously. Health is not something people just throw to the winds; the slightest concern they have is a reason for a doctor’s appointment.
Another aspect of the app is that it creates some kind of competition between people that has both positive and negative effects on people. The positive effects can be that it motivates people to walk more, sleep better, and have healthier routines. However, it causes some people to get too motivated and that can be unhealthy for them. Obviously, different people have different bodies and as a result, different needs. It may not be healthy for someone to walk as much as some other person, so the unnecessary competition between people creates health concerns. This adds up to people’s eating disorders and physical insecurities. Another negative aspect of the app is that it can be deceiving. It is possible for an iPhone to not record the biking distance as distance taken since it’s speed is faster than walking speed. Additionally, a person may not take all his steps carrying an iPhone. In conclusion, an app which’s purpose is take make life healthier and easier may have many effects that are both negative and positive. It is important for the user to keep a balance between getting deceived by an app and using it to improve life. A simple app has high expectations from the user.
