Personal Safety Apps: Essential Tools for Women?

Women should be encouraged to access public spaces in the same way their male counterparts can. Walking, running, and commuting alone should not be tainted by fear, but for many women, safety concerns do exactly that. The UK’s Office for National Statistics in 2022 found that around 63% of women reported feeling unsafe walking alone in the dark. The UK has recently even declared violence against women and girls a national emergency following an increase in reports of assaults on women in public spaces. It comes as no surprise that women are looking for alternative services, tools and gadgets to keep them safe. One innovation that is on the forefront of women’s safety tools are personal safety apps. Personal safety apps have become women's digital companions to increase their protection when walking, running, exercising or simply being outdoors.

What are Personal Safety Apps?

Personal safety apps are mobile applications designed to enhance an individual's safety. These apps typically provide features that help users in emergency situations such as real-time location tracking or emergency alerts with the ability to notify close contacts or authorities. Some common features of personal safety apps include:

• Emergency Alerts: With just one tap, users can send instant emergency alerts to trusted contacts or emergency services. This feature ensures help is on the way if they feel unsafe during a walk or run.

• Real-Time Location Sharing: Safety apps often include real-time location tracking, so loved ones can monitor the user’s whereabouts while they’re out walking or running alone. This adds a layer of security, knowing someone is keeping an eye on your route.

• SOS Button: A discreet panic button on a personal safety app allows users to send an SOS signal instantly. It's especially useful in situations where speaking to emergency services isn't possible, such as during an attack or harassment.
  

Common pitfalls of personal safety apps

No product is ever perfect, but when it comes to personal safety it is vital to choose personal safety products that are reliable and sensitive. There are common pitfalls among regular personal safety applications. Here are some problems to look out for:

• Accessibility: In an attack or emergency, users need to be able to quickly hit the SOS button or reach the app. Additionally, if the app interface is confusing and congested, it will usually do more harm than good in distressing situations.
• Data Security: Many personal safety app rely on storing and selling personal data which can expose sensitive location information to Third Parties and authorities.
• Abuse of the service: Personal safety apps typically focus on the end user who uses them to stay safe on their journeys, but what if the user has a stalker or controlling partner? It’s important to use apps that give the user maximum control over who is allowed to access sensitive information.
• Aftercare: Especially as a solo traveller and vulnerable user it’s important to feel supported throughout the experience. If something did happen, users should not be left to their own devices but receive additional data and tips that can help reporting.
• Safety labour: Personal safety apps usually target users that are already vulnerable. Safety labour describes efforts a person puts into their safety which may include money spent on preventive tools and self-defence but also the mental work behind constantly considering one’s own and other people’s safety. It is important that neither the price point nor the effort required to use personal safety apps adds unnecessarily to safety labour.
  

Epowar, an app that revolutionises the personal safety sector

There is one app on the market that not only combines all the common features of personal safety apps but revolutionised the sector. Epowar is the only personal safety app that is designed specifically around the female experience of safety and with survivors of violence in mind. It is sensitive and allocates full control to the user. Here are some features that are unique to Epowar:

• Automatic attack detection: While the Epowar app has an SOS button that even shows on the locked phone screen, the app has built a unique algorithm that can detect an attack automatically by checking the user's heart rate and motion. This means that in an attack or emergency, the user does not need to even press a single button and can fully focus on staying safe.
• Evidence Pack: If Epowar detects an attack or the app’s SOS button is used, it does not only alert friends but records evidence such as microphone audio, detailed location data and vital signs and stores all of this evidence safely in the cloud. This evidence can be used as factual data to empower reporting.
• Aftercare email: After an attack was recorded, Epowar automatically sends important self-care advice to users.
• Data protection: Not  only is Epowar 100% transparent about their data usage, they do not store or sell any personal data which makes it one of the safest options for data security.
• It’s free! Epowar is entirely free and has assured user’s that all current core safety features will remain free.
  

Why Personal Safety Apps Are Crucial for Women Today

With 1 in 3 women experiencing harassment or assault while walking or running outdoors, personal safety apps are more important than ever. They provide especially vulnerable groups with the extra bit of safety and empowers users to take control of their safety in public spaces.

For anyone who enjoys outdoor activities but feels vulnerable traveling alone, having a personal safety app is an essential step in ensuring protection.