Warning: *Privacy Not Included with this product
Headspace says their mission is to improve the health and happiness of the world. Founded by a former monk who also seems to have a love for the circus, Headspace offers guided meditation and mindfulness tips as well music from John Legend to help you fall asleep. This popular app -- the company claims over 70 million members in 190 countries around the world -- says it wants to be 'your mind's best friend," which sure does sound nice. Seems your mind's best friend also might like to collect and share your data with places like Facebook and Google though so maybe hold off on that BFF label for now.
Je, jambo gani linaweza kutokea mambo yakienda mrama?
First reviewed April 20, 2022. Review updated, April 25, 2023
Well dang. In 2022, Headspace was one of the few apps we reviewed that actually did NOT receive our *Privacy Not Included warning label. Unfortunately, in 2023, it looks like Headspace has taken a step backward. This year they earned two privacy dings from us. First, for our concerns about how they say they can share some personal information with third parties, including Facebook, to target ads. We have that same concern this year. This year are also unable to confirm based on Headspace's privacy policy that all users, regardless of what privacy laws they live under, have the right to access and delete their data. Boo! So, it looks like in 2023 Headspace's privacy practices have gotten a bit worse. Headspace now earns our *Privacy Not Included warning label. Bummer.
Read our review from 2022:
Headspace does collect some personal data on users, including -- name, e-mail address, phone number, divine information, app usage data, and Facebook ID -- although seemingly not as much as some of the other mental health apps we reviewed. Still, they collect your personal and app usage information and say they can share that information with third parties like Google and Facebook to target advertising and make personalizations within the app. Unfortunately, this is pretty standard practice for apps like this in our current data economy. Still, it's not great if you care more deeply about your privacy.
Does it matter if Facebook knows when you use a meditation app, if Google knows where you use the app, or if Headspace knows you're searching for a meditation to help you prepare for a big exam? It could. What's the worst that could happen? Well, here's a blog from Headspace talking about how they are developing machine learning applications to use your data in real-time to offer "recommendations that engage our users with new relevant, personalized content that builds consistent habits in their lifelong journey." New, consistent habits could also be interpreted as keeping users using the app as much as possible. One idea they mention in this post is to use users' biometric data such as steps or heart rate to then recommend in real-time more content to get them moving or exercising. OK, that's not necessarily a bad thing. But what more could a company potentially learn about you and do with that data? Perhaps learn your emotional state? Your anxiety level? And then target more content or advertising to you when you're more vulnerable? We don't think this is currently happening with Headspace. But the title of this section is "what could happen if something goes wrong?" And it seems, now or in the future, there are many things that could go wrong with this sort of vast data collection, processing, and the personalization and ad targeting that follows.
All in all, Headspace isn't the worst meditation app we reviewed. It does collect a good amount of data though, shares some of that data with third parties for things such as targeted advertising, and seems to be looking to use more of that data to keep you on the app as much as possible. Like we said, unfortunately, this is the norm for apps in our current data economy. The question is, should it be?
Vidokezi vya kujilinda
- Check out your privacy references.
- Follow Headspace's tips to protect your account from a security breach.
- Consider disconnecting Headspace from Facebook.
- Opt out of cookies collection
- Do not log in using third-party accounts
- Do not connect to any third party via the app, or at least make sure that a third party employs decent privacy practices
- Do not give consent for sharing of personal data for marketing and advertisement.
- Chose a strong password! You may use a password control tool like 1Password, KeePass etc
- Do not use social media plug-ins.
- Use your device privacy controls to limit access to your personal information via app (do not give access to your camera, microphone, images, location unless neccessary)
- Keep your app regularly updated
- Limit ad tracking via your device (eg on iPhone go to Privacy -> Advertising -> Limit ad tracking) and biggest ad networks (for Google, go to Google account and turn off ad personalization)
- Request your data be deleted once you stop using the app. Simply deleting an app from your device usually does not erase your personal data.
- When starting a sign-up, do not agree to tracking of your data if possible.
Unaweza kunichunguza?
Kamera
Kifaa: Haihusiki
Programu: Hapana
Kipaza sauti
Kifaa: Haihusiki
Programu: Hapana
Inafuatilia eneo
Kifaa: Haihusiki
Programu: Ndiyo
Unaweza kutumia nini kujisajili?
Barua pepe
Ndiyo
Simu
Hapana
Akaunti ya mhusika mwingine
Ndiyo
Facebook, Apple, Spotify and Google can be used for a sign-up
Kampuni inakusanya data gani?
Ya kibinafsi
First and last name, email address. In same cases: telephone number, home address.
Shirika linalohusiana
Kijamii
"If you choose to invite a “Buddy” to use the Products using our Buddy system, we will ask you for their name and email address."
Je, kampuni inatumiaje data hii?
Unawezaje kudhibiti data yako?
Je, rekodi ya kampuni inayojulikana ya kulinda data ya watumiaji ni gani?
No known privacy or security incidents discovered in the last 3 years.
Taarifa ya Faragha ya Mtoto
Je, bidhaa hii inaweza kutumika nje ya mtandao?
You can download content to use it offline.
Maelezo ya faragha yanayofaa watumiaji?
Viungo vya taarifa za faragha
Je, bidhaa hii inakidhi Viwango vyetu vya Chini Zaidi vya Usalama?
Usimbaji fiche
Nenosiri thabiti
Masasisho ya usalama
Inashughulikia hatari
Sera ya faragha
Headspace offers personalised and real-time suggestions to guided meditation
Je, AI hii haiaminiki?
Je, AI hukufanyia maamuzi gani?
Je, kampuni ina uwazi kuhusu jinsi AI inavyofanya kazi?
Je, mtumiaji anadhibiti vipengele vya AI?
Chunguza kwa Kina
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The Best Meditation AppsWirecutter
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Choosing a mindfulness appMIT Medical
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Headspace vs. Calm: How Do These Meditation Apps Compare?Healthline
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Headspace's privacy reviewReallyGoodUX
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Standard Privacy Report for Headspace: Meditation and SleepCommon Sense Privacy Program
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AI For Meditation: How Headspace Leverages AI and ML TechnologiesAnalytics India Magazine
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Real-Time Machine Learning at HeadspaceMedium
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Global Mental Health Apps Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By Application, By Platform Type, By Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2021 - 2027Yahoo! finance
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