There are downsides with downloading their app just to input bad data, but it’s a fun thought.


edit: While we’re at it we might as well offer an alternative app to people.

I posted in !opensource@programming.dev to collect recommendations for better apps

The post: https://lemmy.ca/post/32877620

Leading Recommendation from the comments

The leading recommendation seems to be Drip (bloodyhealth.gitlab.io)

Summarizing what people shared:

  • accessible: it is on F-droid, Google Play, & iOS App Store
  • does not allow any third-party tracking
  • the project got support from “PrototypeFund & Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Superrr Lab and Mozilla”
  • Listed features:
    • “Your data, your choice: Everything you enter stays on your device”
    • “Not another cute, pink app: drip is designed with gender inclusivity in mind.”
    • “Your body is not a black box: drip is transparent in its calculations and encourages you to think for yourself.”
    • “Track what you like: Just your period, or detect your fertility using the symptothermal method.”

Their Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@dripapp

  • Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    I don’t want to victim blame but if using an app is optional and it could get you in trouble with the law (regardless of how bad the law is), you should not use it.

    Having said that, as a dev, please pollute data as much as possible.

    Management needs to learn how valuable good data is and good data comes with proper consent (most people wouldn’t share their data if they could opt out).

    • andros_rex@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      These apps are very helpful for people who have irregular cycles or who are family planning. I relied heavily on a similar app in high school, because my monthlies weren’t monthly. I was able to share that data with my doctors to help better understand my body.

      This really indicates a need for self-hosted solutions.

      • Olgratin_Magmatoe@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        Absolute worst case you could always keep track of it as a raw text/markdown/excel/Libre calc/whatever your preference is. You’re not going to get any predictions or useful data out.

        But it would at least provide a record for your doctor if need be. And as long as you encrypt the device you store it on, or the directory its stored in, it’s relatively safe to do so.

          • andros_rex@lemmy.world
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            21 hours ago

            This is a legitimate concern.

            A teenage girl who is looking to track her cycle is likely not educated on data security - as someone who works with teens, Gen Alpha is shockingly tech illiterate. They are going to go into the App Store, type “period tracker” and download the first thing that pops up.

              • lightnsfw@reddthat.com
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                22 hours ago

                I CAN’T FIND MY DOCUMENT!!!

                Okay, where did you save it?

                I DON’T KNOW, I JUST CLICK SAVE LIKE ALWAYS!!!

                *remotes into workstation and clicks save only to find the file was saved in their temp directory*

                I had that conversation hundreds of times when I was doing desktop support…

              • Shardikprime@lemmy.world
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                14 hours ago

                They don’t know what a file is, but they can use an app store, to download an app, create an account, log in, and interface with the UI to load data.

                Got it

                • alsimoneau@lemmy.ca
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                  8 hours ago

                  I did specify a text file. And yes, they’ve been doing the second one since they were 5. Not all tech skills are transferable.

                • frostysauce@lemmy.world
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                  14 hours ago

                  Yes, actually. Downloading apps, making an account, logging in, and using an app are all things they have done before. Opening up Notepad on their computer (if they have one) and saving a text file then navigating back to it later and opening that file is something they probably have never done before.

                  • Shardikprime@lemmy.world
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                    14 hours ago

                    Right, they never opened a pdf file, or any other type. Nor they know how to write as well

                    Got it

          • medgremlin@midwest.social
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            1 day ago

            Write it down on paper or put it in a word document or excel spreadsheet (or FOSS equivalent if you don’t have Office 365).

            From a medical perspective, a handwritten journal with dates and notes about the amount/consistency of the flow as well as associated symptoms would be the most useful. Having irregular periods that last for 3 days with very heavy bleeding would have a very different diagnostic approach than irregular periods that last 3 to 5 days with normal bleeding and horrible cramps.

          • Olgratin_Magmatoe@lemmy.world
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            19 hours ago

            A potentially good option if you’re on Android is putting it in your secure folder. It’s basically just a sub directory for all your files, notes, and pictures, but it an encrypted form.

            So if you’re technical enough to understand jow to enter a password (most people), then you have an easy to use option. Just don’t forget your password, and don’t set it to something easy to crack. It’s the same rules for any other password.

            I’m sure there are similar options for windows/mac/ios

            But if you’re a more technical user, by all means it is in your interest to encrypt the whole thing.

            https://lemmy.world/post/21961202

    • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
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      19 hours ago

      That’s not great advice for people who weren’t afraid of law enforcement in the past and are now feeling exposed due to data they already gave away.

      • OneWomanCreamTeam@sh.itjust.works
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        6 hours ago

        Not to mention: a lot of people don’t really understand how technology works. They just use the app without even thinking where that data goes. Like yeah, it would probably behoove those people to educate themselves on the technology they’re using, but I certainly don’t want them to face unjust legal repercussions just because Republicans hate anyone with a vagina.

    • bane_killgrind@slrpnk.net
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      1 day ago

      Period tracking is a very good tool for understanding your health. Issues may be spotted very early in some cases.

      If it’s required for preventative healthcare, the blame is solely on the exploitative app operators for any data safety concerns.