Whoop launches opt-in social network for health data

Unlike Whoop’s existing Teams feature, which centers on groups and leaderboards, Humans lets members choose individual followers and decide what each can see. Users can react to and comment on posts, and add photos and commentary. Whoop says the feature is opt-in. In beta testing, Ahmed said, the company found people were more engaged when someone shared a low recovery score than a near-perfect one.

The launch comes as Whoop expands beyond fitness into health and wellness. Its products already include FDA-cleared ECG and atrial fibrillation detection, blood pressure insights, blood testing and medical-record uploads. Ahmed said the company has seen “huge growth” among members over 60 in the past 18 months, without providing figures, and has members in a Medicare program that reimburses qualifying wearables shown to improve health outcomes.

The sharing options raise privacy questions, particularly for families and minors. Members can remove followers, use “stealth mode” to go dark temporarily, and report disturbing comments or photos. Whoop says sensitive activities are not shared by default, and health alerts and medical information are never shared. The minimum membership age is 13, or higher in some countries; Ahmed did not directly answer whether a parent could follow a teenager’s data, pointing instead to the privacy controls. He said Whoop does not sell or license member data to third parties.

Ahmed expects families to be among the network’s major users. He also said the company is “always on the prowl” for acquisitions and expects more consolidation among AI-focused, clinician-focused and wearable companies. Whoop has about 1,200 employees, and membership on its software platform has grown more than 70% annually for three consecutive years. The company expects nearly 4 million members by year-end. Ahmed said it “will certainly IPO in the future,” but declined to discuss revenue or profitability.

Whoop devices are scheduled to reach Ulta stores next March, initially at about 500 locations, with a longer-term target of more than 1,000. Ahmed said the company’s female audience has more than doubled from last year. He played down competition from Google’s Fitbit Air band and a reported Apple band, arguing that making a product does not guarantee success.