An new app, SafeTrek, is available to help those in danger feel more secure.
SafeTrek is designed for anyone who feels they are in danger. If an individual is feeling unsafe, they can open the app and press the shield icon. When the user lets go of the shield, they have a few seconds to type in a four digit pin code. If it is not typed in within 50 seconds, the app will contact local police and send the user’s location to them.
According to Killerstartups, SafeTrek was developed for students by students. It is available in the United States and works for Androids and iPhones.
Staff counselor Brenda Gunter said she thinks SafeTrek might help students feel more comfortable about walking places by themselves, however, it could give a false sense of security.
Gunter said while the app helps people to feel safer in dangerous areas, it is a better idea to avoid dangerous situations to begin with.
“I would also want them to think about other safety measures as far as not being alone in places where they feel unsafe, or at night on the trail by themselves,” Gunter said.
Gunter said she does know how someone would respond to SafeTrek because she does not know how quick the police would get to the person in danger, especially if the user did not have their location service turned on.
“Also, it could be set off by accident and that would cause difficulties for police if somebody is really needing help, or somebody sent the police there and they’re not necessarily needing help,” Gunter said.
Senior Megann Olsson said SafeTrek is a good app for people to have.
“I wish there wasn’t a need for an app like that, but I think it’s definitely helpful to have something like that just because talking on the phone is not always the safest option,” Olsson said.
Olsson is a receptionist in the Tinius dormitory and sometimes walks alone late at night to her Phase Four campus apartment after work. She said if she had the SafeTrek app she would feel more comfortable.
“It’s not always easy for the police to get to certain areas of campus because the parking lot can be so scrambled,” Olsson said.
Olsson said Safetrek could be helpful for if there is a robbery or an unknown person inside the apartment complexes.
“You don’t want them to know that you’re in the apartment if you can hear them breaking in,” Olsson said. “Knowing that you can call somebody without actually having to talk and do it just silently is really comforting.”
According to Daily Mail, the app uses GPS and other mapping systems that are built into the smartphone to locate the user. The app as proven to be highly popular among young women. SafeTrek claims 70 percent of the app’s users are between the ages 13 and 24 years-old and 95 percent are women.
“I think it’s great that it’s there for women mainly, because we’re vulnerable,” freshman Camille Cave said. “Stuff is more likely to happen to us than guys.”
Olsson said SafeTrek could benefit women in abusive relationships.
“Knowing what happens to other people, makes me nervous, so knowing there’s something that can make me feel safer is comforting,” Olsson said.
Cave said she appreciates that they made the app for people to feel secure. She said she appreciates the people who want to make sure women are safe and make them feel comfortable, even if they are in uncomfortable situations.
“Since I’m small it’s nice to have something there for me, because I get scared walking alone sometimes,” Cave said. “It’s nice to know that if I’m not in a situation where I want to be that I can have my thumb on that button and the police will come right away “
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