A Content Analysis of Personal Safety Apps: Are They Keeping Us Safe or Making Us More Vulnerable?. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maxwell, L.; Sanders, A.; Skues, J.; Wise, L.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 26:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 233
• Page End: 248
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: vulnerability -- public violence -- personal safety apps; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801219832124
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

Despite personal safety apps claiming to increase safety, few studies have examined the usefulness of such apps in reducing public stranger violence. A content analysis of personal safety apps available in the iTunes store and Google Play identified location-based services, personal alarms, crowd-sourced hot spot data, and geofencing as the most common features. The majority of apps offered interventions either at the time of the event or post-event, suggesting that they may reduce a user's fear of crime but have limited usefulness in reducing vulnerability to victimization. Implications for users, app designers, and key stakeholders are discussed.