Check-in apps -- is it because the baby boomers are turning 80? Is it because many baby boomers are living alone? Is it the rise of solo agers (no family)? Anyway, another wave of these has launched. Probably more check-in capability in the past 6 months than in all of the prior 5 years. In August came the launch of two – AloneAssist and CheckWellCall. Prevous adds include Kindable and IamFine and SnugSafe. And then add SoloandSure, and Looop. Oh, and Danoggin. So a well-meaning adult child decided this is a market opportunity – and then another…and another.
Somebody has to say STOP – or at least understand the implications. The one-tap apps like IamFine, for example – answer the phone and Tap OK -- these are striking in their simplicity. One might also say their implied hostility between adult child and parent. We don’t have to talk, no time to chat, gotta go, just confirming you aren’t dead. Or it could be the last step before cutting ties altogether – which is apparently a trend.
Check-in app brief exchanges – how does a text message compare? The check-in app with one-tap and done? Or a text message to ask ‘how’s it going?’ or how was that visit with your doctor yesterday? The one-tap – perhaps there is a time zone disconnect or an overworked mom or dad? One tap eliminates this wordy exchange of status. Is that good?
Is this tech in search of a problem? Many technologies boil down to that – consider the AI-everything, aka useless AI assistants for the purpose of ‘stock-pumping’. Consider Is AI about to go bust? Are adorable AI-enabled robots the future? Check-in apps (some with built-in AI) ‘solve’ an anxiety problem for the adult child – just like parenting children. Are they safe? Are they okay staying home after school? Did they get off the bus? A check-in app to mitigate the anxiety of adult children about their parents sounds so very similar. But is it a trap to avoid a meaningful conversation? Just saying…
