Beobachten, wie die App uns beobachtet

Abstract

Our world seems to be falling apart – or at least it can easily feel that way. We are all caught in a media whirlwind of news about climate change and state crises, in a working world that demands more and more for less and less. The feeling of losing control is spreading. Many are trying to regain a piece of control, at least over themselves. They strive to exercise more, spend less time in front of screens, and work more productively.

In recent years, a trend towards self-improvement has emerged. At the same time, the market offers many small digital helpers to turn wishful thinking into reality. Online, there are countless free apps available to help users with self-improvement. Sounds quite altruistic, doesn’t it? But app developers also need to pay their rent, and as the saying goes, "If you're getting something for free, you are the product." So something doesn’t quite add up.

As part of a seminar on the topic of surveillance, a course of media studies students set out to explore the world of these apps. For a week, they observed and documented how a particular app observed and documented their lives. They investigated what happens to their data in the process and considered what this means for our society. The central question was who ultimately gains control. Here are three of their stories.