Why Is the Corona-Warn-App Not Used More Often?

The Corona-Warn-App can only achieve its intended purpose if it is used by a critical mass of 56 percent of all citizens. According to calculations of the Robert Koch Institute, 23.2 million people in Germany had downloaded the app by the end of November. The new study of the University of Mannheim shows that approximately 81 percent of the German citizens who are between 18 and 77 years old own a smartphone on which they can use the app and are able to install the app independently or with help from others. However, in June only 35 percent of the German citizens were willing to use the app properly.

The study also shows that only 62 percent of the elderly people with underlying conditions, who are at a high risk for a severe disease progression of COVID-19 and who should therefore be warned as early as possible about a potential infection, are able to install the Corona-Warn-App. Although the app is accepted by many citizens who are able to install it, it is only used by 36 percent. “The result shows very clearly that the politicians should consider providing people who are at a higher risk for a severe disease progression of COVID-19 with a simpler alternative than the smartphone. This could be done, for example, with a digital wristband that is equipped with the functions of the Corona-Warn-App”, says Blom who headed the study.

The second population group that the study focuses on are citizens who have many contacts in their private and professional life and who would probably spread the virus to many people in case they get infected. Although more than 90 percent of this population group own respective devices and know how to use the app, only 31 percent are willing to use it. “The simple message “Install the app!” is not enough,” says the data scientist. Financial incentives for using the app or addressing groups in the media who are at a higher risk of spreading the virus would be more effective.

Data basis
The results are based on data of the Mannheim Corona Study for which approx. 3,600 participants from all over Germany were interviewed every week from 20 March to 10 July 2020 about how their lives have changed since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis. The scientists combined the collected data with the data from the German Internet Panel (GIP). The German Internet Panel is a longitudinal study that is based on a random sample from the registers of the residents' registration offices throughout Germany. Since 2012, more than 5,000 people are regularly interviewed online on a variety of topics. In order to avoid biased data caused by the online methodology and to make sure that the results are representative for the population, the study uses a two-stage weighting procedure.

Link to the freely available preprint of the publication: https://osf.io/bc3fv/?view_only=ce750b2d0262464395a9ffbda2c20584