I spoke with her about what some of these messages are, and why theyre problematic.
That goes double if the app was recommended by your therapist or doctor.
The apps were largely silent on that, Parker says.
So the responsibility is all on you.
Thats a lot for someone whos seeking help.
Not Everything Is a Mental Health Problem
We all have stresses and disappointments in our life.
(Ask me how I know.)
But that doesnt mean that anyone who worries about a deadline has a mental illness.
Some implied that you had a problem if you werent happy and positive all the time.
None of these amount to symptoms of mental illness, except as part of a bigger picture.
Constant talk about being at risk of mental illness is also potentially problematic.
I worry about that message, says Parker, because it gives the impression that human beings are fragile.
Youre not going to accidentally slip into mental illness just because you didnt use an app.
The People in the Apps May Be Nothing Like You
Apps make assumptions about their users.
Thats okay if you fit that profile, but many folks dont.
If you dont have a problem, then you could be wasting your time.
Apps also want you interacting with them a lot.
Maybe there are reminders every day (or several times a day) to check in.
Maybe they end up making you feel bad for not sticking with your program.
She recommends watching out for privacy issues, ad tracking, or subscriptions that youll forget to cancel.
Unfortunately, none of these are easy tasks.
How do you know whats worth worrying about in a privacy policy?
Do youreallyknow if the app maker is trustworthy?
So were kind of on our ownexactly when we shouldnt be.
