Different tech companies have released various contact-tracing tools and methods to help in preventing the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
However, a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center reveals that the majority of Americans are not in favor of using these tools! They do not even think that these measures are much worthy to put their individual personal information and data at risk.
According to this study, only 16% of US citizens believe that location tracking through cell phones will make a difference in controlling the spread of COVID-19.
22% of people believe that it might help a little bit.
While 60% of US citizens think that location tracking is useless in this regard!
This study also reveals that around 52% of US citizens think that is okay for the government to track people who have been tested positive for coronavirus through their cell phones. While approximately 48% of the US population does not find this acceptable at all. Now, there is not much difference in both the groups, and it clearly shows that maybe its time for the government to win the trust back of these people somehow!
The approach of government tracking down people who may have come in recent contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive is acceptable for 45% of the US citizens only. While 54% of the Americans find this notion unacceptable too.
According to some more stats, only 37% of Americans find it acceptable that their government tracks them to ensure whether they are complying with the advised social distancing and other safety precautions or not. While around 62% of Americans simply do not accept this at all!
Now, by looking at these stats, it is quite evident that the Americans have serious trust issues with their government and on these contact-tracing measures altogether.
According to a survey in 2019, another important reason for their wariness is that more than 72% of Americans find it hard to believe that these tech companies can benefit them at all. More than 75% of people are extremely skeptical about their government collecting their data to control the spread of diseases. And 79% of Americans have concerns about their data being misused by these tech companies and third parties that have access to all these data.
Contact-tracing is not a novel practice. In fact, it is an important part of the anti-virus public health regime and is well-recognized by both WHO as well as CDC.
It can be done manually, through interviews with people who get sick, then tracking their movements and the people they come in contact with and then making calls to alert those people who are in potential danger due to this interaction.
Google and Apple have made this whole process digitalized and more efficient. They recently released APIs for contact-tracing apps, which work on the principle of tracking location through mobile phone Bluetooth tech.
Many other countries have employed various means for contact-tracing to stop the spread of this deadly virus. Maybe the US citizens need to keep their wariness and general misgivings aside and work towards the better purpose to get rid of this virus soon too.
Read next: Marketers and consumers favor Facebook and Instagram over other social media platforms according to a new survey
However, a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center reveals that the majority of Americans are not in favor of using these tools! They do not even think that these measures are much worthy to put their individual personal information and data at risk.
According to this study, only 16% of US citizens believe that location tracking through cell phones will make a difference in controlling the spread of COVID-19.
22% of people believe that it might help a little bit.
While 60% of US citizens think that location tracking is useless in this regard!
This study also reveals that around 52% of US citizens think that is okay for the government to track people who have been tested positive for coronavirus through their cell phones. While approximately 48% of the US population does not find this acceptable at all. Now, there is not much difference in both the groups, and it clearly shows that maybe its time for the government to win the trust back of these people somehow!
The approach of government tracking down people who may have come in recent contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive is acceptable for 45% of the US citizens only. While 54% of the Americans find this notion unacceptable too.
According to some more stats, only 37% of Americans find it acceptable that their government tracks them to ensure whether they are complying with the advised social distancing and other safety precautions or not. While around 62% of Americans simply do not accept this at all!
Now, by looking at these stats, it is quite evident that the Americans have serious trust issues with their government and on these contact-tracing measures altogether.
According to a survey in 2019, another important reason for their wariness is that more than 72% of Americans find it hard to believe that these tech companies can benefit them at all. More than 75% of people are extremely skeptical about their government collecting their data to control the spread of diseases. And 79% of Americans have concerns about their data being misused by these tech companies and third parties that have access to all these data.
Contact-tracing is not a novel practice. In fact, it is an important part of the anti-virus public health regime and is well-recognized by both WHO as well as CDC.
It can be done manually, through interviews with people who get sick, then tracking their movements and the people they come in contact with and then making calls to alert those people who are in potential danger due to this interaction.
Google and Apple have made this whole process digitalized and more efficient. They recently released APIs for contact-tracing apps, which work on the principle of tracking location through mobile phone Bluetooth tech.
Many other countries have employed various means for contact-tracing to stop the spread of this deadly virus. Maybe the US citizens need to keep their wariness and general misgivings aside and work towards the better purpose to get rid of this virus soon too.
Read next: Marketers and consumers favor Facebook and Instagram over other social media platforms according to a new survey
