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C. Judging a tool before you trust it

Who made the app, what it does with your information, and what stars and testimonials are really worth.

1 author6 articles
What an app can do with your informationTo find out what an app does with your information, read its privacy section on the store listing before installing it.
Spotting an app that is mainly there to sellTo spot an app that is mainly there to sell, count how many times it asks you to pay during the first five minutes.
What stars and reviews don't tell youThe stars in an app store tell you whether people liked the app, not whether its health information is accurate.
Reading a privacy policy: finding what mattersA privacy policy explains what a publisher does with your information. A few keywords help you find the important passages.
Checking who wrote a health page or appTo find out who made a health page or app, read the About section of the site, or the publisher's name on the store listing.
Spotting a paid testimonial or an undisclosed partnershipTo spot a paid testimonial, look for the tags #ad, #sponsored or #partner under the video or the post.