How Tech Companies Can Boost Public Health and Profits

by Jon Scaccia November 1, 2024

Technology touches every aspect of our lives—how we eat, sleep, move, and even think. From rideshare apps to streaming platforms, these tools have become integral to our daily routines. But what if the same technology that keeps us glued to our screens could also be designed to make us healthier?

A recent study explored this possibility, examining how tech companies and impact-driven investors might adopt health-promoting strategies in product development and capital allocation. The results present a roadmap for turning technology into a powerful ally in the fight against chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and anxiety.

The Opportunity for Health-Positive Tech

We know that technology can influence our behavior. Rideshare apps can make cars more convenient than walking, streaming services keep us binge-watching, and food delivery apps make ordering fast food too easy. With over 85% of the population using smartphones, including 96% of those aged 18-49, these platforms have an immense ability to shape our habits. These habits, in turn, are linked to increasing rates of chronic diseases. But what if tech products were designed to encourage healthier lifestyles instead?

This research seeks to answer that big question. While there’s been much discussion about how technology negatively affects health, such as the influence of social media on mental health, there’s little focus on how tech could improve it. The private sector has a golden opportunity to step up, and this study provides recommendations for doing so.

Breaking Down the Research

The research team interviewed 19 stakeholders, including executives from tech companies and investors focused on social impact. These interviews revealed key themes and offered insights into how companies can make health-promoting strategies a natural part of their business model.

Three main points emerged from the interviews:

1. Health Equity Matters: Tech products should consider the demographics of their users to maximize their health impact. By designing products that meet the needs of diverse populations, companies can create tools that improve health outcomes across the board.
2. Health Metrics Are in Demand: There’s a growing appetite for reliable health metrics that span industries. Investors and companies alike are eager to see concrete data on how products are affecting users’ health.
3. Positive Externalities Matter: Tech products can create benefits beyond their intended use, like promoting physical activity or improving mental health. These positive effects should be integrated into business strategies, as they can lead to both financial and social returns.

These findings helped the researchers develop a logic model with a theory of change, offering a framework for companies to integrate health strategies into their operations.

Why Health-Positive Tech Makes Sense

The potential for tech companies to improve public health isn’t just good for consumers—it’s good for business. When companies prioritize health, they stand to gain loyal customers, attract investments, and enhance their brand reputation. This dual benefit—social good and financial profit—is key to driving buy-in from company leaders and investors.

Take streaming services, for example. What if platforms introduced wellness reminders or adjusted autoplay settings to encourage users to take breaks and move around? Or consider food delivery apps that could highlight healthier options by default, making the healthy choice the easy choice. These subtle changes could have a massive impact on public health without compromising user experience.

Moreover, companies that adopt these strategies early could gain a competitive edge. As consumers increasingly demand more socially responsible products, businesses that align with these values will be better positioned for long-term success.

Practical Takeaways for Public Health Practitioners

For public health professionals, the results of this study offer a roadmap for collaboration with tech companies. By advocating for health-promoting design features, practitioners can influence the development of products that support healthier behaviors.

Here are a few practical steps public health professionals can take to push this agenda forward:

1. Engage with Tech Companies: Public health agencies and organizations should contact tech companies and investors to encourage the integration of health metrics into their products. This could include offering insights into how their products influence lifestyle behaviors and recommending design changes to promote health.
2. Support Policy Changes: Policymakers can help by creating regulations that require companies to report on their products’ health impacts. Just as companies now report on their environmental impact, they could be encouraged (or mandated) to track and disclose how their products influence health outcomes.
3. Raise Awareness: Public health professionals can play a key role in educating consumers about the health impacts of tech products. By raising awareness of the issue, they can create demand for health-positive products and services.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite the potential benefits, implementing health strategies in the tech industry presents some challenges. One of the biggest barriers is the lack of existing health metrics that can be easily applied to non-health-related tech products. While companies measure financial returns with ease, measuring health outcomes is more complicated and often requires the development of new tools and frameworks.

Another challenge is the cost. Implementing health-promoting features can be expensive, and without clear evidence that these changes will boost the bottom line, some companies may be hesitant to invest. However, as consumer demand for healthier options grows, and as more companies take the plunge, this initial reluctance could give way to broader industry adoption.

Join the Conversation

What do you think about tech companies adopting health-promoting strategies? Have you seen any examples of products that already do this well? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media!

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