BetterHelp: Difference between revisions
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==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
*(User privacy) On 2023 | *(User privacy) On 02 March 2023, it was revealed that BetterHelp had shared data and private info on users with third parties in order to dish out targeted/personalized ads to said users, despite claiming that they don't share data with other companies/advertisers. | ||
*(Business model) BetterHelp prides themselves on their accessibility and scalability and operates using subscriptions in order to generate weekly revenue. | *(Business model) BetterHelp prides themselves on their accessibility and scalability and operates using subscriptions in order to generate weekly revenue. | ||
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===Private data sharing=== | ===Private data sharing=== | ||
BetterHelp's '''Privacy Policy'''<ref>Privacy Policy. (2018). Archive.org. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230301163612/https://www.betterhelp.com/privacy/#section16 "Privacy Policy - Section 11 - Are you using my data for advertising?"] Retrieved 19 Dec 2025</ref> explicitly states that any private information shared with therapists will remain confidential. Specifically, it clarifies that such information will not be shared with third-party advertisers:<blockquote>To be clear, we don’t share any data or information you share with your therapist with any Third-Party advertisers. Even if you opt-in to targeting cookies and web beacons, we still don’t share information with Third-Party advertisers like member names, email addresses, phone numbers, clinician diagnosis, questionnaires answers, sessions data, journal entries, messages, worksheets, or any other type of private communication you have with your therapist on the Platform.</blockquote> | BetterHelp's '''Privacy Policy'''<ref>Privacy Policy. (2018). Archive.org. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230301163612/https://www.betterhelp.com/privacy/#section16 "Privacy Policy - Section 11 - Are you using my data for advertising?"] Retrieved 19 Dec 2025</ref> explicitly states that any private information shared with therapists will remain confidential. Specifically, it clarifies that such information will not be shared with third-party advertisers:<blockquote>To be clear, we don’t share any data or information you share with your therapist with any Third-Party advertisers. Even if you opt-in to targeting cookies and web beacons, we still don’t share information with Third-Party advertisers like member names, email addresses, phone numbers, clinician diagnosis, questionnaires answers, sessions data, journal entries, messages, worksheets, or any other type of private communication you have with your therapist on the Platform.</blockquote>On 02 March 2023, the [[FTC|Federal Trade Commission (FTC)]] raised a complaint<ref>BetterHelp, Inc., In the Matter of. (2023, March 2). Federal Trade Commission. [https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/2023169-betterhelp-inc-matter "BetterHelp, Inc., In the Matter of"] Retrieved 19 Dec 2025</ref> against BetterHelp. BetterHelp gave third parties (including Facebook, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Criteo) consumer information for the purpose of serving targeted ads "bringing in tens of thousands of new paying users, and millions of dollars in revenue, as a result."<ref name=":0">Khan, L., Slaughter, R., & Bedoya, A. (n.d.). [https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/2023169betterhelpcomplaintfinal.pdf "BetterHelp: Final Complaint - 2023169"] Retrieved 19 Dec 2025</ref> Third parties also used the data for personal research and development.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
On 2023 | |||
Four months later, 2023 | Four months later, on 14 July 2023, the FTC ordered BetterHelp to pay $7.8 million in the form of partial refunds to its' customers between 01 August 2017 and 31 December 2020.<ref>Khan, L., Slaughter, R., & Bedoya, A. (n.d.). from [https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/2023169betterhelpfinalorder.pdf "BetterHelp: Final Decision and Order - 2023169"] Retrieved 19 Dec 2025</ref> Emails started being sent out to around 800,000 eligible customers on 06 May 2024.<ref>(2024, May 6). Federal Trade Commission. ftc.gov. . [https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/05/betterhelp-customers-will-begin-receiving-notices-about-refunds-related-2023-privacy-settlement-ftc "BetterHelp Customers Will Begin Receiving Notices About Refunds Related to a 2023 Privacy Settlement with FTC"] Retrieved 19 Dec 2025</ref> | ||
===Unethical pay structure=== | ===Unethical pay structure=== | ||