Crime control or just theater? An experimental test of the effects of a mobile safety app on crime prevention intentions and behaviors

期刊论文
发表日期：

2024年2月3日

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Heather Hensman Kettrey,
Michael L. Tidwell,
Savannah R. Burke,
Sarah Duncan,
Monika Nwajei,
Noah Samuel Reynolds,
Claire Waddell,
Sam Scott,
Cadi Imbody,
Mary Jerge,
Joffrey Young,
Noor Nishan,
Akanksha Rathi,
Jauhar Jackson

摘要

Objectives

We examined whether mobile safety apps constitute a form of crime control theater that thwarts actions that have the potential to prevent crime.

Methods

Using an experimental research design with a sample of college students (N = 210), we measured the effects of a safety app (i.e., Rave Guardian) on trust in mobile technology, fear of crime victimization, self-protective behavior, and bystander intentions to help someone at risk of victimization.

Results

Findings indicate that safety app access is associated with increased self-protective behavior and bystander intentions. However, participants who actually used the app exhibited increased trust in mobile technology that slightly inhibited bystander intentions. We found no effect of app access or usage on fear of victimization.

Conclusions

Safety app usage, but not access, may function as a form of crime control theater. Until future research further explores differences between app access and usage, widespread uptake seems premature.