3 hidden health indicators you didn't know your phone was keeping track of
Imagine someone following every step you take, furiously noting everything you do in a notebook. Pretty creepy, right? Well, that’s pretty much what your smartphone does — but because our iPhones and Androids are so useful, we rarely think about how they keep track of us.
One way you can take your privacy back is by tweaking your phone’s location settings. Within your Apple and Android device is a buried feature known as “Frequent Locations,” which keeps track of where you go and how long you stay. Tap or click here to turn off location settings on your smartphone.
Many of the ways our smartphones track us can be helpful, like fitness tracking. Through this feature, your smartphone analyzes your health to see how your fitness journey is going. But there are a few ways your phone monitors your health you might not know about. Here’s all you need to know.
1. How you walk
Sure, you probably know that your smartphone can count steps and distance. You don’t need a smartwatch for that. But you may not know that your phone can track the way you walk.
For instance, your iPhone can measure your walking steadiness and asymmetry. It also knows how far you’re stepping. Thanks to your phone’s motion sensors, custom algorithms analyze your balance, stability and coordination.
What you need to know about the Walking Steadiness feature
If you have an iPhone 8 or a more recent model with iOS 15, you can turn on this feature. It tracks mobility metrics, like step length, walking speed and even walking asymmetry. This feature categorizes your walking steadiness. If you’re hobbling, your phone will send you a notification like this:
Want to turn this feature on? Here’s how to find it:
- Open the Health app on your iPhone.
- Tap Summary.
- Scroll to Walking Steadiness Notifications.
- Tap Set Up and follow the onscreen prompts to confirm your health details. You can even turn on notifications.
- Tap Done.
Don’t forget that your iPhone can also collect information about your steps
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