Signal About 21% of US adults used smartwatches or fitness trackers by 2019

Summary

According to the report, about 21% of US adults regularly used a smartwatch or fitness tracker by 2019. The figure is offered as a sign of the growing pool of health data collected by private companies. The report explains that a great deal of human biological data can now be gathered, from genetic information to heart rate and blood pressure. Private firms such as 23andMe and wearable devices hold much of this data, which raises oversight challenges linked to the split between public and private ownership. The report expects that incentives from healthcare providers and insurers could spread wearable use further, increasing data collection while heightening privacy and data ownership concerns.