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Summary
Nigerian women are boycotting the period-tracking app Flo over reports of selling user data without consent, leading many to switch to Stardust, a women-owned alternative known for prioritizing privacy and security.
A wave of outrage has swept through social media as Nigerian women boycott the popular period-tracking app, Flo, following reports that the company sold user data without consent.
The controversy began when X user @lafemmefola posted:
“Deleted Flo, now downloading Stardust (a women-owned period app), good riddance to bad rubbish.”
This post quickly gained traction, with many women echoing similar sentiments and switching to Stardust, a free cycle-tracking app owned by women.
Stardust integrates science, ancient wisdom, astronomy, and artificial intelligence to help women track their menstrual cycles and understand their hormone health. The app is praised for its privacy policies and commitment to data security, unlike Flo, which has been at the center of legal disputes over data misuse.
Flo Health, Inc. faced a lawsuit in 2021 after reports emerged that it collected, tracked, and sold sensitive personal information to third parties, including major technology companies like Google, Flurry Inc., and Meta. This was reportedly done through specialised Software Development Kits (SDKs), despite Flo’s privacy policies stating otherwise. The lawsuit claimed that Flo misrepresented its data privacy practices, violating users’ trust and causing substantial harm. As a result, personal health information of millions of Canadian App users has been sold to corporate entities for profit, from which the proposed class members have suffered loss and damage.
The lawsuit also reports that the Flo app failed to uphold the reasonable expectations of privacy promised to users. Despite assurances that reproductive health data would remain confidential, Flo reportedly monetised this information, leading to widespread backlash and distrust.
The reports have reignited concerns about data privacy, prompting nigerian women to delete Flo and seek alternatives. Several users on X expressed support for the boycott.
One user, @zia_tiffah, stated that Stardust is an excellent alternative,
“”stardust is sooooo good. i love it sm””
Another user, @Zoyablooms, mentioned that she had already deleted Flo a long time ago, affirming that they are using Stardust specifically because it is owned by women.
“Anyways, I too have downloaded stardust (a women owned period app) and I deleted Flo long ago. And yes, I’m using stardust because it’s owned by women”
With increasing concerns over data security, many users are now opting for Stardust, which offers essential features for free while providing premium subscription options.
The ongoing boycott signals a growing awareness of digital privacy among Nigerian women and shows the demand for transparent and ethical data practices in health-related apps.
