A network approach to third-party tracking devices on mental health websites: data surveillance and privacy in the digital panopticon

Purpose This study explores the presence of third-party tracking devices on popular mental health websites. It is rooted in the concepts of surveillance capitalism and the digital panopticon, which link the commodification of data with broader social and cultural practices. Design/methodology/approach The data was collected from 31 mental health websites through the DMI Tracker Tool based on trackers identified in the Ghostery database. The research used Gephi, an open-source tool, to visualize and explore the trackers embedded in mental health websites. Findings Big Tech and many smaller companies operate a broad network of surveillance for profit within a panopticon that forms a digital sphere of containment for those who participate in this techno-structural ecosystem. Insights from this study will inform current debates about online mental health information and therapy linking surveillance capitalism and big data to users’ data within broader social and cultural practices. Research limitations/implications The websites used in this study were identified through a Google search for the “most popular mental health websites.” The websites do not represent a comprehensive view of all mental health websites or websites focused on aspects of mental health, for example, depression or anxiety. While the same techno-structural ecosystem of tracker technologies operates globally, the present research is confined to US-based websites. Practical implications As the trackers operate beyond the boundaries of most government regulations, consumers lack awareness of the opaque system in which they exist. Social implications Seeking information and treatment for mental health online is a highly sensitive area where concerns over data privacy may impact individuals’ willingness to participate in a system that collects and uses their data without the consumer’s full awareness. Originality/value This study explores a system about which there is little awareness. Many consumers unwittingly accept “cookies” – small pieces of code – to be placed on their computers as they seek information about mental health.