Social fitness tracking app Strava has run into trouble with user privacy concerns, and these concerns aren’t new. A real-life example: Strava and privacy concerns
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Therefore, it is important that runners learn how to use these fitness apps in a way that can still achieve their goals while keeping their personal privacy in mind. This is one of the key problems that could occur when not taking privacy into consideration. A stranger could potentially find out where you live, where you like to run, and when you like to run. Congrats, whether you intended to or not, you’ve just shown the world where you live. After your run, you post a snapshot of your route on Facebook or share your run on the fitness app. Picture this scenario: you use a fitness app to record your running route starting from your house. However, it is these same features that can put your privacy at risk. Fitness apps use GPS tracking so that runners can see how far they went and record their routes and time. Fitness apps can be really helpful in this regard. Or, perhaps some of us are just really proud of our fitness achievements and want to show them off.
In addition, posting a favorite running route might allow others to follow in our footsteps and try out a cool new route. For those trying to reach a new running goal, accountability from others might be just the push they need. Similarly, sharing one’s activity helps with accountability. For instance, some runners may seek motivation from their online community. The appeal is of using a fitness app like Strava or MapMyRun to track one’s progress is understandable.
Understanding the privacy problem with fitness apps By asking questions about the privacy features of these fitness apps, runners can better protect themselves and their personal privacy. The public availability of information such as one’s home address and frequent running routes is cause for alarm. For example, Strava, a social fitness tracking app, has recently been criticized because users may not realize how public their personal information may be. Without using the privacy settings on Strava, a stranger could learn where you live, when you run, and where you run. Runners using fitness apps should consider the privacy risks.
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