Hit 10,000 steps for 30 days straight and the algorithm freaked me out

I got one of those fitness apps, nothing fancy, just to track my walking for a knee issue. About three weeks in I hit the 10,000 step mark for 30 days in a row. The app popped up a big congratulation screen and then showed me a map of every single route I took, with timestamps and little heat trails. It was like someone had been watching me walk around my neighborhood for a month. I didn't think much of it at first, but then my phone started buzzing with restaurant ads for places I only walked past. Have any of you had an app silently collect your movement data like that and then use it to serve you ads?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_jana1mo ago

I used to think it was harmless but you just changed my mind completely.

the_elliot1d ago

Wait, for real? What exactly changed your mind so completely?

lindag331mo ago

Well, I still think it depends on the situation honestly.

ellioth371mo ago

What made you flip on this @the_jana?