A personal safety app or SOS app is a

mobile application A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop applications which are designed to run on de ...

which can be used to aid

personal safety Human security is a paradigm for understanding global vulnerabilities whose proponents challenges the traditional notion of national security through military security by arguing that the proper referent for security should be at the human rather th ...

. Such apps received increased prominence in the media after the 2012 Delhi gang rape case and consequent

protest A protest (also called a demonstration, remonstration or remonstrance) is a public expression of objection, disapproval or dissent towards an idea or action, typically a political one. Protests can be thought of as acts of coopera ...

s against "brutal rapes, molestation and mistreatment of women". Technology, including social and mobile tools, are playing an important role in improving overall personal safety, with technologies such as GPS, SMS, video, alerts, alarms, and more, allowing a user in distress to alert bystanders and close friends.

Features

While most personal safety apps are offered as

freeware Freeware is software, most often proprietary, that is distributed at no monetary cost to the end user. There is no agreed-upon set of rights, license, or EULA that defines ''freeware'' unambiguously; every publisher defines its own rules for the f ...

, some are either distributed as a

freemium Freemium, a portmanteau of the words "free" and "premium," is a pricing strategy by which a basic product or service is provided free of charge, but money (a premium) is charged for additional features, services, or virtual (online) or physical (o ...

app with paid features which can be unlocked through

in-app purchase Microtransactions, often abbreviated as mtx, are a business model where users can purchase virtual goods with micropayments. Microtransactions are often used in free-to-play games to provide a revenue source for the developers. While microtransact ...

s, supported through advertising, or marketed as paid applications. These include various features, including sending

text message Text messaging, or texting, is the act of composing and sending electronic messages, typically consisting of alphabetic and numeric characters, between two or more users of mobile devices, desktops/ laptops, or another type of compatible comput ...

e-mail Electronic mail (email or e-mail) is a method of exchanging messages ("mail") between people using electronic devices. Email was thus conceived as the electronic ( digital) version of, or counterpart to, mail, at a time when "mail" meant ...

s, IMs, or even Tweets to close friends (containing approximate location,) or emitting a loud intermittent "shrill whistle" in the manner of a

rape alarm A panic alarm is an electronic device that can easily be activated to request help during an emergency situation where danger to persons or property exists. It is designed to minimize time until assistance can arrive. A panic alarm is freque ...

. Additional features include

geofencing A geofence is a virtual perimeter for a real-world geographic area. A geofence could be dynamically generated (as in a radius around a point location) or match a predefined set of boundaries (such as school zones or neighborhood boundaries). Th ...

and preventive alerts. Some apps allow to customize the alert message sent and the ringtone that signals the reception of a new alert. They normally include different triggering mechanisms to cope with different emergency situations. Common triggering mechanisms include pressing and holding the phone's switch button for a few seconds, shaking the phone vigorously, tapping on an alert button, and even loud screaming sound which the app can detect. When the alert signal is triggered, these apps automatically go to work, sending text messages and emails with exact location of the user to emergency contacts listed on the app. In April 2016, the Indian government mandated that all cellphones sold in the country must contain a panic button function by 2017, activated through either a dedicated button or pressing the power key three times.

Popular Examples

Digital Chaperones

Apps such as these allow people to keep an eye on one another and mimic chaperones in a way. This revolutionary kind of software application has the ability to empower individuals through their personal safety.

Reception

Clinical research associate at

BGS Global Hospital Gleneagles Global Hospitals (formerly Global Hospitals Group) is a hospital network based in India. History Global Hospitals Group was founded by Dr. K. Ravindranath in 1999 with a focus on complex multi-organ transplantation. The hospital has ...

, Denet Pradeep, was of the opinion in early 2013 that such apps are ineffective without modification. One Indian media professional noted the vague location information and the sometimes convoluted functionality, saying "You'd rather run away than croll to andactivate he app" She suggested that developers incorporate functionality which doesn't rely on the internet, because of the poor 3G connectivity in India in 2012.

References

{{Reflist, 2, refs= 10 Personal Safety Apps to Keep You Protected , SnappTips
/ref> 10 Best Mobile Apps For Women Safety In India , AppConsumer
{{webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123035429/http://www.appconsumer.com/10-best-mobile-apps-for-women-safety-in-india/ , date=2013-01-23 Distress apps: How safe?
/ref> Alarms Mobile software