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Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

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Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#51

Post by autoexec »

nextlevelwizard wrote: post #45
autoexec wrote: post #18

Apps that tempt people into placing their mental health issues, and the state of those issues, into networked devices designed to collect and leak their private data like a sieve is just irresponsible. I'm sure advertisers and data brokers would love to have this kind of information, but it's probably better for people who already have struggles with mental health if companies aren't exploiting those struggles for pr…

Maybe touching some grass and freeing yourself from these shackles would actually improve your life? Constantly worrying if some data is gathered you that could be used to gasp better target advertisements for you probably is affecting that mental state a lot more than you can to admit. You can go to absurd lengths to try and tie down your data, but at the end of the day your data isn't that interesting. Just run adb…

> Constantly worrying if some data is gathered you that could be used to gasp better target advertisements for you probably is affecting that mental state a lot more than you can to admit.

You're either confused or grossly misinformed. It's never been just about showing you ads.

The data collected about you can and will will be used against you in countless other ways. Data brokers sell your info to employers, landlords, and insurance companies. Your private data can be used against you in courtrooms, in divorce proceedings, in custody battles. The data apps collect can get you arrested or make you a suspect for crimes you had nothing to do with (or are only crimes in other states).

Companies are increasingly using your private data to determine everything from how much to charge you vs the next person for the same goods/services, to decide what they'll tell you their policies are vs what they'll tell someone else, and even how long to leave you waiting on hold when you call them.

The data being collected and sold about you never goes away. It will follow you for the rest of your life. You aren't allowed to know who has it, or what they are doing with it, or how accurate it is. You can never know what will prejudice someone against you and what is acceptable today may not be tomorrow.

If you think the data being collected about you is all about what ads you see, then you clearly haven't been paying attention. There is a multi-billion dollar a year industry around the buying and selling the most mundane details of your personal life because not only is your data "interesting", it's making people money hand over fist at your expense.

Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#52

Post by jon-wood »

afro88 wrote: post #41
jon-wood wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think a counterpoint to your concern about this app being one-size-fits-all is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT is absolutely a one-size-fits-all solution though, and in my opinion quite harmful in many ways. The core premise of CBT is more or less "it's all in your head". I'm sure for some people it is, but for many (myself included when I tried it), it is absolutely not all something I could just handwave away…

It's a one size fits all approach sure, but only for cases where it's your thinking that is causing the negative state you're in. A state that has left you helpless or otherwise unable to help yourself get out of it. CBT is about establishing new constructive thought patterns that break that cycle. Condescending those that need this kind of tool to improve their mental health is unnecessary. You might not have been i…

Apologies, my intent wasn’t to have a go at people who CBT genuinely helps, I’m sure it’s very effective in many cases otherwise it wouldn’t be such a big thing. I’m projecting my general frustration at the world onto it to an excessive degree.

Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#53

Post by yreg »

latexr wrote: post #32
yreg wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hm, they do collect user and usage data and they say they might share it with others. https://www.roadmaptogrow.com/privacy.html It's unfortunate. We’ve made a similar app (to combat sugar addiction), but we made a conscious decision to avoid collecting any information we don't have to. Our privacy policy is just that we get the data App Store shares with us and that when a user sends us an email we are going to keep…

> We’ve made a similar app (to combat sugar addiction), but we made a conscious decision to avoid collecting any information we don't have to. That was intriguing to me (especially the respectful data collection). Found the app through your profile, but it’s not available in my country.

Yes, currently I need to sign some new agreement because Apple changed the terms and put it back on App Store. I will try to remember and let you know, thanks for the interest.

Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#54

Post by basisword »

sesm wrote: post #42
autoexec wrote: post #18

Apps that tempt people into placing their mental health issues, and the state of those issues, into networked devices designed to collect and leak their private data like a sieve is just irresponsible. I'm sure advertisers and data brokers would love to have this kind of information, but it's probably better for people who already have struggles with mental health if companies aren't exploiting those struggles for pr…

Also, an anxious person won’t use this app if there is any chance of his data leaking outside. For example, I couldn’t start my personal calendar until I found a way to have it 100% locally via Obsidian plugin.

People are anxious about different things. Most anxious people aren’t anxious about data privacy and security.

Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#55

Post by basisword »

jon-wood wrote: post #40
rocketbop wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I share your concern about using an app to deal with a psychological problem, but I think a counterpoint to your concern about this app being one-size-fits-all is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The central premise of CBT is that it doesn't really matter what the roots of the behaviour a patient wants to change are. Reprogramming our behaviours is enough. This is really the opposite of the old Freudian ideas that a th…

> I think a counterpoint to your concern about this app being one-size-fits-all is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT is absolutely a one-size-fits-all solution though, and in my opinion quite harmful in many ways. The core premise of CBT is more or less "it's all in your head". I'm sure for some people it is, but for many (myself included when I tried it), it is absolutely not all something I could just handwave away…

You seem dramatically misinformed about CBT. I can understand if you had a bad experience with it. I think the psychologist you work with matters a great deal as do their tools/approaches. But your description of it is inaccurate and I thought worth noting lest you scare anyone away from something which could help them.

Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#56

Post by nextlevelwizard »

xctr94 wrote: post #47
nextlevelwizard wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe touching some grass and freeing yourself from these shackles would actually improve your life? Constantly worrying if some data is gathered you that could be used to gasp better target advertisements for you probably is affecting that mental state a lot more than you can to admit. You can go to absurd lengths to try and tie down your data, but at the end of the day your data isn't that interesting. Just run adb…

This is nonsense. I’ve had to deal with bills coming in my name because someone got hold of my credit card and address. It’s absolutely stressful and will make you feel helpless. What about people denied insurance because of their Amazon purchases? People with bad mental health being harassed because their data leaked? Doxxing, iCloud hack photo leaks, people affected by leaks of key government IDs, etc.; how are you…

>I’ve had to deal with bills coming in my name because someone got hold of my credit card and address.

If you can't distinguish between stolen credit card and whatever mental things this app is tracking, what can I say?

Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#57

Post by nextlevelwizard »

autoexec wrote: post #51
nextlevelwizard wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe touching some grass and freeing yourself from these shackles would actually improve your life? Constantly worrying if some data is gathered you that could be used to gasp better target advertisements for you probably is affecting that mental state a lot more than you can to admit. You can go to absurd lengths to try and tie down your data, but at the end of the day your data isn't that interesting. Just run adb…

> Constantly worrying if some data is gathered you that could be used to gasp better target advertisements for you probably is affecting that mental state a lot more than you can to admit. You're either confused or grossly misinformed. It's never been just about showing you ads. The data collected about you can and will will be used against you in countless other ways. Data brokers sell your info to employers, landlo…

>Data brokers sell your info to employers, landlords, and insurance companies.

Even if this was the case, why is this an issue? Why would you want to work for employer who cared about anything except your skills? Same goes for landlords (not that you should be renting anyway). And get a better insurance company.

Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#58

Post by tolarewaju3 »

autoexec wrote: post #18

Apps that tempt people into placing their mental health issues, and the state of those issues, into networked devices designed to collect and leak their private data like a sieve is just irresponsible. I'm sure advertisers and data brokers would love to have this kind of information, but it's probably better for people who already have struggles with mental health if companies aren't exploiting those struggles for pr…

I understand the frustration and mistrust with things like this. I don't know if I can answer every qualm on here. Because honestly, most of them are valid and have examples of companies that have mishandled our data. That being said, I'll say a few things.

1. I will not sell people's mental health data. As someone who has struggled with Social Anxiety (the fear of being judged), the last thing I want is my personal life made public or revealed without my consent.

2. I think this does deserve some eye-roll, since many people say they won't do that at the beginning. But after spending a lot of my life struggling with hiding stuff, there's not a monetary value that could make me do that to someone else.

3. I'm also not really a fan of advertising. I plan on charging for features people actually find valuable. Some people will probably get angry at that too, but a price tag upfront means I don't need to sell you (and your data) behind your back.

There's always a cost to things. I plan on being painfully upfront.

I truly appreciate your comment though. I know going forward that I'll need to be very clear about privacy and data governance to put people at ease. And then, actually stick to what I say.

I'm curious though, are you talking about Apple as the platform that can't be trusted?

Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#59

Post by tolarewaju3 »

sesm wrote: post #42
autoexec wrote: post #18

Apps that tempt people into placing their mental health issues, and the state of those issues, into networked devices designed to collect and leak their private data like a sieve is just irresponsible. I'm sure advertisers and data brokers would love to have this kind of information, but it's probably better for people who already have struggles with mental health if companies aren't exploiting those struggles for pr…

Also, an anxious person won’t use this app if there is any chance of his data leaking outside. For example, I couldn’t start my personal calendar until I found a way to have it 100% locally via Obsidian plugin.

Apart from having your data locally hosted on your phone, what else would put your mind at ease?

Re: Show HN: Roadmap – A Personal Growth Game for Social Anxiety

#60

Post by darajava »

tolarewaju3 wrote: post #7
darajava wrote: post #4

Nice app! I have an app in roughly the same vein (both introspection apps) which I’m also releasing. Would love to know your thoughts! https://audiodiary.ai What framework did you use for this?

I like it! Clean landing page. I'm also a big fan of practicing gratitude daily. It's great for stress relief and overall well being. I think the audio prompts are an easy way to get people started. My main feedback would be to get clear on the end result. Is it capturing life's moments or achieving goals? I'd also consider have a middle section with "How it Works" so people can visualize what they'll be doing. Like…

Really good point as goals have become more important... I consider goals to be future, capturing memories/entries as the past. But also the process of talking to it is therapeutic and I consider that the present.

I want to capture this in its mission statement, so thanks for the feedback. Best of luck with your app.

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