by Cameron Dewey, SART/SAKI Policy Advocate and Virti Choksi, Program Intern
As society sees a growing reliance on technology, it is important to look at how technology can be used as a way to increase survivor safety and support. While many organizations have taken the important step of creating an online presence through websites, mobile apps are a great way to make sure people have quick and easy access to support on their phones. Due to the new nature of safety apps, studies and literature on their effectiveness are very limited. However, the few studies that have been published have found that apps have had a positive impact for sexual assault survivors’ recovery and healing.
Specifically, the development of safety apps for violence against women are one example of how mobile applications can serve as tools for improving survivor safety. The immediate access to resources, emergency assistance, and support networks play a big role in providing help. Apps that include tracking features or emit alarms can increase a person’s sense of safety and security (Doria, et al., 2021). Specifically, some apps allow people to plan their escape from a violent situation or identify potentially dangerous areas. Other apps provide information on self-defense and how to handle violence.
Another positive of safety apps is the aspect of privacy, which helps not only with a sense of safety, but also general comfort levels. Many individuals who experience sexual assault do not report or come forward for help for a variety of reasons (Weiss et al., 2010). Having access to an app is a great way to get survivors the resources they may need, without them having to show their faces or risk further stigma. They are able to access the app on their phone without the knowledge of others. A study by Doria et al. (2021) found that “some women felt an increased sense of privacy while using the app, which allowed them to feel more comfortable and secure, as well as less judged and stigmatized by others.” Another study by Eisenhut et al. (2020) found that “55%–95% of women remain hesitant and fearful of reporting such incidences in person” but that apps and their respective anonymous functions could help remove or alleviate that fear.
In one pilot clinical trial from the University of Washington School of Medicine, the app THRIVE, which is not yet available, was shown to help survivors of sexual assault by offering survivors with daily exercises and activities to help improve mental health and phone coaching to help the survivors of sexual assault (Dworkin, 2024). In the trial, researchers focused on survivors who had an incident occur in the past ten weeks and who had elevated post-traumatic stress as well as drinking. When compared to the control group, those who had used the app saw a decrease in posttraumatic stress as well as a decrease in time spent drinking/intoxicated (Dworkin, 2024). While this study specifically focused on THRIVE, it highlights the potential benefits that come with these apps.
Apps are a big step towards getting survivors access right when they need it. With apps, survivors have a more convenient starting place to help with finding the closest center to them and other resources, while reducing the amount of face-to-face interaction. Technology has created a space where survivors are less likely to fall through the cracks due to distance or anxiety because they are able to have access to the help they need from wherever they are located. A study from Jin Lee and Myung Kyung Lee (2024), that evaluated both user and professional opinions of apps for sexual violence, found that both users and experts appreciated that apps provide easy access to both necessary and reliable information. Also, both Android and Apple allow for apps to be “hidden” from one’s home screen, helping survivors who may worry about someone checking their phone.
While it is important to continue to increase the amount of help available through apps, it is also important to remember that not everyone has access to smartphones or knows how to use them. For some survivors, navigating technology can be a daunting task, so it is important to maintain the traditional methods of help, hotline numbers, face-to-face counseling, in-person advocacy services, to ensure everyone is still getting the help they need. Outside of digital apps and survivor services, survivors who want to seek support from law enforcement have that option. This process will involve law enforcement gathering statements from the victim, witnesses, and suspects as well as collecting and analyzing evidence, which can also include evidence from the medical exam. Law enforcement can assist the victim with referrals or information on other survivor services.
If you are a Maryland survivor seeking support, help is available. To find your local rape crisis center, call 211 or visit MCASA's Survivor Services webpage. For legal support, call MCASA’s Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI): 301-565-2277
Editor’s note: This article is not endorsing these products. Its purpose is to provide information on the emerging technologies designed to support survivors.
References
Doria, N., Ausman, C., Wilson, S., Consalvo, A., Sinno, J., Boulos, L., & Numer, M. (2021). Women's experiences of safety apps for sexualized violence: a narrative scoping review. BMC public health, 21(1), 2330. Retrieved from here.
Dworkin, E. R., Schallert, M., Lee, C. M., & Kaysen, D. (2024). Pilot randomized clinical trial of an app-based early intervention to reduce PTSD and alcohol use following sexual assault. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 16(Suppl 3), S668–S678. Retrieved from here.
Eisenhut, K., Sauerborn, E., García-Moreno, C., & Wild, V. (2020). Mobile applications addressing violence against women: A systematic review. BMJ Global Health, 5(e001954). Retrieved from here.
Lee, J., & Lee, M. K. (2024). Development and Usability of a Mobile Support Application for Sexual Violence Victims Connecting With Formal Support Organizations. Violence Against Women, 0(0).Retrieved from here.
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA). (2025). Role of law enforcement. Retrieved from here.
Weiss, K. G. (2010). Too Ashamed to Report: Deconstructing the Shame of Sexual Victimization. Feminist Criminology, 5(3), 286-310. Retrieved from here.
