7 Incredible Ways Technology is Helping Battle Sexual Assault

Technology has been finding a way to fight back against sexual assault. Since April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, here are seven applications that are joining the fight against sexual assault. Most of these apps are free and affordable, and they provide excellent resources for sexual assault survivors. Each of these apps provides discreet and easy ways for you to send messages to family, friends, and police during emergencies and unsafe situations.

OnWatchOnCampus

The OnWatchOnCampus app was the 2011 winner of the White House Apps Against Abuse Challenge. This app comes with six alerts that you can customize and send to friends and family. This feature called “Watch My Back” is enabled the moment you set a passcode-locked timer on your phone. If you run out of time before entering the code, the app will send a message along with your GPS location.

This app comes with another feature called “I’m Here,” which notifies your friends of your location to inform them you arrived at your destination safely. It also comes with features that allow you to contact the campus police, 911, and emergency contacts with a few taps on your phone. It’s available for $9.99 per year or $0.99 cents per month on iOS or Android.

bSafe


It’s important to stay safe before an emergency arises. The bSafe app immediately turns your phone into an emergency siren. Once you trigger the alarm, your phone will record audio and video of the incident. It’ll then broadcast the incident to your close group of contacts.

You don’t have to worry about saving this information afterward. It automatically saves your audio, location, timestamps, and video. All of this information is saved and backed up to your mobile app’s servers. This app also provides you with easy access to your information, in case you need to share it with police. It’s available for free on iOS and Android smartphones.

Circle of 6

Circle of 6 was one of the first mobile apps created to combat sexual assault. This app consists of four buttons, which are easy to use. When you tap the car icon, the app will text your contacts with your information and will request a ride home on your behalf. The phone icon allows you to send your contacts a text asking them to interrupt your conversation.

The chat icon will also text your contacts, asking them for advice. And lastly, the exclamation icon provides you with a list of national hotline numbers and your list of emergency contacts. This app is available for free on iOS and Android smartphones.

LifeLine Response

You can still communicate safely during a life-threatening situation. LifeLine Response makes it possible by converting your phone into an alarm. When you’re walking through an unsafe neighborhood, press and hold your thumb on the center of your smartphone.

The moment you let your thumb go, the app will turn your phone into an emergency system with features such as flashing lights, GPS tracking, and sirens that people can hear up to two miles away. You can disarm this app by entering the four-digit activation code the moment you reach your destination. This app is available for free on iOS and Android smartphones.

Here For You

This mobile app was created by a group of students at the Loyola University of Chicago. It connects you to other victims of sexual assault in a multitude of support groups across the country. This app is organized into four categories: dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and miscellaneous issues.

You also receive access to on-site counselors, national hotlines, and support group information. It even has articles to help someone who’s a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence. Here For You is available for free on iOS only.

Kitestring

Kitestring is one of the most important resources for women. While it’s not an application per se, this web-based tool allows you to check-in after you safely reached your destination. Meeting someone from an online dating site? Going for a run by yourself? Tell Kitestring how long you plan to be out and the site will track the time to ensure that you are safe.

If you don’t respond in time, an alert is sent to your emergency contacts. While joining the website is free, you can only choose one emergency contact and use this service eight times a month. Unlimited service costs $3 per month.

Callisto

Callisto informs you of your options. This site was created for survivors, by survivors. It’s become a digital reporting system that allows you to report your case to authorities. Or, you can bypass this process, if you don’t feel comfortable. You can create records of the assault, find out which options to take, and visit resources such as nearby clinics.

This is a great web-based platform if you have no one to talk to. Due to its convenience, you can create a form anytime with the push of a button. This website makes sexual assault victims aware of their options. Since Callisto partners with certain universities, pricing options are available upon request.

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Category: Tech