HEALTH

The Role of Social Relationships in Dementia Self-Testing Apps

North AmericaFri Dec 27 2024
Ever noticed how dementia self-testing apps aren't just about you? They're also about your friends and family. These apps sometimes make you feel responsible not just for yourself, but for others too. This isn't something we talk about much. We often focus on how these apps push responsibility onto individuals. But what about the role of social ties in all this? A recent study looked into this. They talked to experts and checked out a North American app's website. They found that these apps can make you feel responsible for supporting others during tests, encouraging others to take the test, and even taking the test for their sake. This is important because it shows that apps can create extra responsibilities, some of which might be tied to gender roles. So, the next time you look at one of these apps, think about who else they're making you responsible for.

questions

    Is there a hidden agenda behind encouraging users to test for the sake of others?
    Could the app be secretly tracking social pressures to manipulate user data?
    If the app could talk, what would it say to make you take the test just for your family's sake?

actions