PolicyPal
PolicyPal is a user-friendly digital tool designed to help users easily understand and navigate the Terms of Service (TOS) and Privacy Policies of online platforms. By simplifying complex legal jargon and providing clear explanations, PolicyPal aims to build trust and confidence in users while promoting informed consent to online agreements.
Problem Space
Problem Statement
How might we protect users' personal information despite their lack of understanding of legal jargon in online terms and policies?
Problem Background
Data privacy has become a growing concern in today's digital age. The data brokerage industry generates around $200 billion annually, with approximately 4,000 companies operating worldwide. Despite the potential risks, studies have shown that a majority of users accept legal terms and conditions without reading them.
In fact, a 2017 Deloitte study found that over 90% of users accept these agreements without reviewing them, with the percentage increasing to 97% for younger users between the age of 18-34. This lack of attention to detail can be attributed to information overload, as identified in a 2016 research study. The study's analysis revealed that the majority of participants (98%) missed the study's fictional platform TOS 'gotcha clauses' about data sharing with the NSA and employers, as well as providing a first-born child as payment for Social Networking Site (SNS) access. With that said, there is a pressing need to improve users' understanding of online legal terms and policies to better protect their personal information.
Research Insights
View Survey Results (Google Sheets)
User Pain Points
- Through research conducted via survey and user interviews, the main pain points users face when trying to understand legal agreements and policies include lengthy documents, legal jargon, and lack of clarity.
Supporting Data
- Respondents expressed a moderate to high level of concern about their online privacy (average 3.53/5).
- Most respondents reported that they rarely or sometimes read legal terms and policies when signing up for a new online platform.
- Most respondents spend less than 2 minutes reading legal terms and policies before accepting them.
Feedback
- Users are becoming more aware of the potential risks associated with sharing their personal data online.
- There is a need for accessible, simplified, and concise versions of these legal terms and policies to help users understand what they are agreeing to when they sign up for an online service.
Future Steps
- To better educate and inform people, respondents propose creating easily digestible website pages, video explanations, online seminars, early education, and raising awareness of the importance of data privacy and best practices. This can be considered as a feature down the road.
Images
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Paolo Miguel Gomez
One important thing I learned was to really dig into the problem space and narrow it down. It's all about understanding what the users truly need, their frustrations, wants, or what they're trying to get done. Sometimes, people don't express their needs clearly, so as a Product Manager, I have to dig deeper to figure out the real problem.
Another lesson I learned was to craft the right story using the research insights gathered. This will support and tell the story for your product and the job that needs to be done.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
&
As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
&
As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
&
Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
&
- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
&
All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
&
I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.