THE COMMODIFICATION OF THE DIGITAL BODY: PERSPECTIVES FROM URBAN INDIAN YOUTH ON HEALTH DATA AND WEARABLES

In the digital age, personal health information has become a valuable resource shaped by technology and consumer culture. This study explores how urban Indian youth engage with health and fitness apps, wearable devices, and digital wellness platforms, and how their personal health data is transformed into a marketable commodity. Using Google Forms for primary data collection, responses were gathered from young users in Mumbai to understand their motivations, behaviors, and perceptions related to digital health tracking. Findings reveal that while most participants perceive these technologies as tools for self-improvement and motivation, many are unaware of how their data is collected, shared, or monetized by corporations. The study highlights a dual dynamic digital health technologies promote empowerment and self-care while simultaneously enabling surveillance and data commodification. Applying Foucault’s concept of biopower, the research interprets how voluntary data sharing becomes a form of self-regulation within broader systems of corporate control. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for stronger data protection policies, transparent practices by companies, and increased digital literacy among youth. Balancing technological innovation with ethical safeguards is essential to ensure that digital health remains a means of empowerment rather than exploitation.