Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation.

Kit Huckvale, John Torous, Mark E Larsen

April 2019 JAMA Netw Open

Synopsis of Social media discussions

The discussions reflect a shared concern about privacy issues, with posts describing the study as a 'fuel for your fire' and emphasizing how many apps transmit data to third parties despite privacy policies. The tone ranges from cautious to urgent, underscoring the need for better transparency and regulations.

A
Agreement
 Moderate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the importance of the study and agree that data sharing practices are concerning.

I
Interest
 High level of interest

Posts show high interest, with multiple mentions of the study’s implications and calls for transparency.

E
Engagement
 Moderate level of engagement

Users actively reference the article, sharing insights and emphasizing the privacy risks, indicating thoughtful engagement.

I
Impact
 High level of impact

Many posts highlight the significant implications for user privacy and regulatory standards, showing the discussion’s potential influence.

Social Mentions

YouTube

1 Videos

Facebook

9 Posts

Twitter

44 Posts

Blogs

16 Articles

News

60 Articles

Metrics

Video Views

60

Total Likes

19

Extended Reach

319,441

Social Features

130

Timeline: Posts about article

Top Social Media Posts

Posts referencing the article

Understanding Privacy Practices in Mental Health and Smoking Cessation Apps

Understanding Privacy Practices in Mental Health and Smoking Cessation Apps

This study assessed the privacy practices of depression and smoking cessation apps by comparing policies versus actual data sharing. It highlights the importance of transparency and technical scrutiny to protect user privacy in digital mental health tools.

AikenEdits

June 12, 2022

60 views

  • Mary Heston
    @maryheston (Twitter)

    Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation. https://t.co/KvcJvO0SOP
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    February 14, 2020

  • Health eDefense
    @healthedefense (Twitter)

    RT @healtheconsult: Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation https://t.…
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    September 17, 2019

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    August 2, 2019

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    @healtheconsult (Twitter)

    Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation https://t.co/v3ZIJNZhpU https://t.co/tXXONDi7WG
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    July 24, 2019

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  • Center for Technology and Behavioral Health
    @DartmouthCTBH (Twitter)

    Researchers note that identifying data sharing practices within #apps often relies on users’ digital literacy and that relying on privacy policies and similar documentation may not be adequate for identifying privacy risks #CuttingEdgeLit #CTBHDI https://t.co/58ZIMVAzZg
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    June 13, 2019

  • Javed Alloo
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    May 2, 2019

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    RT @BIDMC_HDS: Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation | Depressive Di…
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    May 2, 2019

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  • John Torous, MD MBI
    @JohnTorousMD (Twitter)

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    May 2, 2019

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    May 2, 2019

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  • Panagiotis Pegkas
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    Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation. | Depressive Disorders | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network https://t.co/ZzrBfDtXLU
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    May 1, 2019

  • The Policy Scientist
    @Greg_Thorson (Twitter)

    More data privacy concerns: Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation. | Depressive Disorders | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network https://t.co/XFn7hqxJ1A
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    April 29, 2019

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    April 29, 2019

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  • Juan C Ivancevich MD
    @Aller_MD (Twitter)

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    April 29, 2019

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  • Susannah Fox
    @SusannahFox (Twitter)

    @allafarce More fuel for your fire: Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation, by @programmatik, @JohnTorousMD, and Larsen https://t.co/mhvYBGsysI https://t.co/jNiGLYRVP3
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    April 29, 2019

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  • Public Utility Law Project of New York
    @UtilityProject (Twitter)

    RT @PrivacyDigest: Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation. | Depressi…
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    April 28, 2019

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  • PrivacyDigest| @PrivacyDigest@privacydigest@mas.to
    @PrivacyDigest (Twitter)

    Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation. | Depressive Disorders | #JAMA Network Open https://t.co/NUkusRGfff > Spoiler, they don’t all behave like you’d hope
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    April 28, 2019

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  • Natalia Wroblewska, PhD
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    April 27, 2019

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  • BIOCIENCIA
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    April 27, 2019

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    @NHChavannes (Twitter)

    Assessment of the Data Sharing and Privacy Practices of Smartphone Apps for Depression and Smoking Cessation. | Depressive Disorders | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network https://t.co/TlSjdos2WP
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    April 27, 2019

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    April 25, 2019

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  • Kurt R. Müller
    @pharmaLevers (Twitter)

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  • Josep Vidal-Alaball MD, PhD, MPH
    @jvalaball (Twitter)

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    @drjohnsportsmed (Twitter)

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    April 23, 2019

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    April 22, 2019

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Abstract Synopsis

  • This study evaluated the privacy practices of popular depression and smoking cessation apps by comparing what their privacy policies said versus what their data actually did, focusing on data sharing with third parties.
  • Results showed that while most apps had privacy policies, many did not clearly disclose all data uses, and most apps transmitted user data to third parties regardless of their policies.
  • The findings highlight a gap between privacy disclosures and actual data handling, emphasizing the need for better transparency and technical scrutiny to protect user privacy in mental health apps.]