Digital phenotyping in psychological and medical sciences: a reflection about necessary prerequisites to reduce harm and increase benefits

Abstract

Digital phenotyping represents a new powerful tool to implement psychodiagnostics in many areas of psychology and medicine. The basic idea behind digital phenotyping is that digital footprints of a person left on social media, smartphones, or other sources of the Internet of Things can be used to get fine grained insights into psychological trait and state variables. Although digital phenotyping has tremendous potential to shed new light on human nature, it naturally comes with risks in the domains of privacy. Therefore, the present article reflects on necessary prerequisites on societal, scientific, and individual level to reduce harm and increase benefits of digital phenotyping.