.. to implore you to use the symptom tracker app?

[VitreousHumour]

The number of people using it has barely gone up over the last week, and anecdotally it sounds like lots of people don't even know it exists.

The more people that use it, the more we'll understand how well lockdown is working.

Please will you download it and report every day, even if (especially if!) you're feeling well?

Thank you!

It's here:covid.joinzoe.com/

Trans themed bullshit on every single thread

No way!

Is that the one that asks about what sex you were 'assigned at birth'? I have no faith in something so lacking in scientific rigour.

^^ this and lack data security. I won't be joining.

I'd never heard of it. The idea of being tracked doesn't particularly worry me. But just checked my app store says not available in my area

Assigned at birth is the best way to get someone’s chromosomal sex surely? Even if it’s “pandering” it means trans people won’t be put off reporting and will report accurately. Honestly, I despair at MN. This could help stop people dying.

Trans themed bullshit on every single thread

Because every day I am a woman and that fact affects every area of my life. You see how it works?

I would love to get on board with this but unfortunately due to reasons given above (lack of trust in govt, unscientific) I won't be.

i don't trust apps on phones so wouldn't use them, too easy to hack.

It was developed by university staff to try and see where COVID is likely to be in the country, so that ultimately we can leave lockdown even without adequate testing. It is not the govt trying to steal people’s data. FFS

Honestly, I despair at MN. This could help stop people dying.

Me too. Between the middle England libertarians and those who would rather see ppl die than give a millimetre on trans... I despair.

I am profoundly GC myself btw.

It's not something that tracks your movements and where you go. It shows how many people are reporting symptoms in a given area.

Even if you have already had it or think you have had it but not been tested- all of that info is helpful.

I use it but suspect a lot of people are doing so for the first couple of days and then forget because, sadly, it seems to lack functionality to remind people to track each day so relies on people remembering/putting it in their diaries and also it is a bit of an odd app to use because when you enter your answers it's never really obvious that it has registered.

using the phrase at all is hughly dubious. Science is not about magic feelz and they should not be pandered to.

No, far better to just say "sex" and assume the trans people put their biological sex down. It's not like it's important. Oh,wait...

Luckily I signed up before they changed the question from asking my sex to the "assigned at birth" bullshit question. I might have thought twice about signing up if I had been faced with that question given that it does imply a distinct lack of scientific knowledge.

Does the question get the right answer with no possible doubt? Yes. That is far more important that flapping about some nonsensical made up word like "feelz"

Here’s the summary of their Privacy Policy:

“Who will be using my data?

Full details, including the institutions we are working with, can be found in our privacy policy.

A summary follows:

Your data is protected under GDPR, and can only be used for the purpose that you consent to. That means it can only be used for medical science and to help the NHS.
This is a not-for-profit initiative, and your data will not be used for commercial purposes.

We try to minimise the amount of personally identifiable information we collect (eg. year of birth but not date of birth), while recognising that the research requires it.

The data you share will be used for research purposes by King's College London, Guys & St Thomas' Hospitals and data scientists at ZOE Global Ltd. It may also be shared with the the UK National Health Service.
Anonymised data may be shared with partner research institutions. To do so, an anonymous code will be generated to replace your personal details. Our partner institutions include: Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Tufts University, Berkeley University, Nottingham University, University of Trento and Lundt University. Some of these research institutions are in the US, and so are not governed by GDPR, and our privacy policy explains this.

You may share your name and mobile number if you wish, but this is optional and is intended to allow us in the future to provide this information to the NHS should you appear at risk. This is not available today, and the app does not provide any diagnostic advice. If you have any health concerns you should go to the NHS website.”

It reminds me MrsFogi

Trans themed bullshit on every single thread

Stoners I have not seen anyone mention trans at all on here.

I use it

I am not prepared to be tracked on anything if I can help it, and fortunately I have a mobile which doesn't do any sort of 'app', just calls and texts (no internet). And I often leave it at home, switched off anyway, to avoid being tracked....

This bothers me from the FAQ page -

Why are you asking for so many permissions?

We released our app quickly with default app permission settings. Although the app is allowed to ask for all of these things, it needs to ask your permission and in practice does not use any of them. Many of you rightly flagged this as excessive and we recognise it fails to meet best practice. As we do not use all these permissions, and don't intend to use them in the future, we will be removing them in a subsequent release of the app.

I'll wait for the update with the pared down permissions.

I can see that this app would be extremely valuable but they absolutely have to get data protection right first.

Anything that purports to be 'scientific' and then goes on to use the phrase 'assigned at birth' is stating unequivocally that it is pretty much anti-science. What else are they getting wrong?

I tried three times and couldn't get past the registration page.

I have registered with this one. It isnt the government one that has been talked about

The one the OP posted is NOT the one the government are planning to track where you are/who you've had contact with. Itbhas nothing to do with the trans debate. It is JUST your postcode, whether you've had a Covid test, and if you feel well or not. That is it. Takes 20 seconds. It is not a scary big brother thing, it is Kings College London (I think?) using it to track the spread of the disease and monitor hotspots of infection. Not government at all.