Population aging is a macrosocial trend with growing implications for mobility and public health. In the coming decades, many countries are expected to experience a marked increase in the average age of their populations, raising new challenges for healthcare and mobility systems. The promotion of active mobility, widely supported in the literature for its role in maintaining health in later life, has gained visibility. However, it remains unclear whether existing digital tools, such as lifestyle apps, effectively contribute to this goal. Methods: This study examined the effectiveness of applications and tools designed to promote walking among older adults through a systematic literature review, complemented by additional sources, including sentiment analysis of user reviews. Results: Many walking apps offer features such as step tracking and personalization, but few address both physical activity and social isolation simultaneously. Available evidence suggests potential benefits in gait quality, balance, and reduced sedentary behavior in specific contexts. User feedback also points to high satisfaction, especially with simple and accessible interfaces. However, the scientific literature supporting these outcomes remains limited in scope and generalizability. Conclusion and practical insights: This multi-source review suggests that walking apps may support more active lifestyles among older adults, though current evidence is not yet conclusive. Future app development should prioritize usability and incorporate features that address both physical and social well-being, while ensuring accessibility and affordability for a broader range of users.

Introduction. Technological advancements have the potential to enhance people’s quality of life, but their misuse can have a detrimental impact on safety. A notable example is the escalating issue of distracted driving resulting from the use of mobile phones behind the wheel, leading to severe crashes and injuries. Despite these concerns, both drivers’ usage patterns and their risk-related associations remain scarcely documented in Mexico. Therefore, this descriptive study aimed to examine the mobile phone usage of Mexican drivers, its relationships to risk awareness and near-miss/crash involvement, and the self-reported underlying reasons for this behavior. Methods. This cross-sectional study utilized a sample of 1,353 licensed Mexican drivers who took part in a nationwide series of interviews regarding their onboard phone use settings. Results. A significant percentage of drivers (96.8%) recognize using a mobile phone while driving as high-risk behavior. However, only 7.4% reported completely avoiding its use while driving, with 22.4% identified as high-frequency users. Frequency was also found positively associated with the self-reported rate of near-misses and crashes. Furthermore, qualitative data analysis highlights the emergence of a ‘sense of urgency’ to attend to phone-related tasks in response to daily demands and life dynamics, offering a potential explanation for this behavior. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest common patterns of onboard mobile use among Mexican drivers concerning driving situations and associated risks. This underscores the need for increased efforts to discourage onboard phone use in the country.