TL; PhD
- A report indicated that Google/Apple API-based COVID applications used in 26 states had little impact.
- The proportion of the population using these applications is very small. Fewer reports of positive COVID-19 test results.
- Obviously, these applications do help, but it seems that resources could have been better used elsewhere.
As the COVID-19 pandemic truly begins to spread in 2020, Google and Apple have rarely expressed solidarity and pledged to help. The two technology giants created the Android and iPhone APIs, which will allow governments around the world to easily develop applications to help track contacts of infected people.
26 states have adopted the Google/Apple exposure notification system.Only 17 provided partial research data, of which Business insider Has drawn its conclusions. In Maryland, the state has the largest number of installations, accounting for 40% of the population, and only 9.7% of COVID-19 cases have been recorded. This is the state with the best numbers-it will only get worse from there.
Looking at data from 17 states, you will find that approximately 24.8% of residents have even installed one of the COVID apps. Among them, only about 2.14% of COVID-19 cases were actually recorded.
What happened here?
Why don’t Americans use the COVID app?
There are many reasons for the failure of Google and Apple’s efforts in the United States. The most obvious are misinformation and distrust. COVID-19 denies that it is rampant in the United States, which may cause people to refuse to install these apps altogether. Even people who accept that the virus is real and dangerous may not trust large technology companies. This may also cause them to reject it.
In addition, people who tend to install one of the COVID apps may be more likely to take precautions to stop it. This may be the reason why there are so few cases reported in the application.
one way or another, Business insider The numbers show that if Google and Apple invested resources elsewhere, they could have seen more benefits in the United States. For example, Google could have worked harder to curb the spread of misinformation on YouTube. Apple-one of the richest companies in human history-could have invested more of its cash in vaccine awareness and other science-based sports.
Of course, it is not too late to do these things. The pandemic is still widespread, and all the evidence suggests that more lockdown measures will soon be in place.