Informal Safety Networks Fall Short for Women, Structured Systems Offer More Reliable Protection

A study commissioned by LogicMark, Inc. found that 70% of women text or call family or friends to share their whereabouts when concerned about safety, and 50% share their location through smartphone apps. This informal safety network has become a common practice because the American public safety infrastructure, while massive, is largely reactive, responding to crimes in progress rather than addressing moments of uncertainty or unease. Women often avoid calling 911 due to concerns about wasting police resources or causing a scene, opting instead for less consequential communication with trusted contacts.

However, these informal methods frequently fall short as safety precautions. There is no guarantee that friends or family will see messages if they are asleep, away from their phones, or have devices on silent mode. Even if they respond, they may not know how to help or accurately relay situations to emergency services. Additionally, many messaging apps do not provide precise, real-time GPS locations, complicating efforts for emergency services to locate individuals quickly. A more effective approach would blend informal networks with structured, always-available systems designed for moments of uncertainty, featuring 24/7 monitoring, simultaneous alerts to trusted contacts and trained responders, and frictionless activation that minimizes steps like unlocking phones or navigating screens.

Structured systems eliminate variables that cause informal networks to break down, ensuring help is available around the clock without missed texts, sleeping contacts, or dead batteries. They also escalate alerts appropriately, connecting both personal networks and emergency services without relying on users to coordinate during crises. Critically, they remove the cognitive burden of thinking clearly in panic, providing accurate, real-time GPS locations so responders can act swiftly. Such solutions do not replace informal networks but strengthen them by keeping loved ones informed while professional dispatchers handle emergency responses. For more details on the study, visit https://www.newmediawire.com.

This mission drives Aster, LogicMark's mobile safety app that turns smartphones into personal protection devices, connecting users to emergency services and trusted contacts. It combines structured emergency support with social safety features, allowing quick contact with emergency services while alerting friends or family with real-time locations. The app includes multiple access methods, such as a home-screen slider for discreet activation, and features like Follow Me and Hold Until Safe that enable monitoring during uncertain moments. It also offers a compact Bluetooth button for quick emergency access when phones are not immediately reachable. Aster mirrors existing habits like texting or location-sharing but adds automation and direct emergency service access to enhance safety.

Despite these benefits, research commissioned by LogicMark shows only 1 in 5 women use safety apps with planned check-in features. With apps like Aster, women no longer have to choose between worrying about overreacting and feeling safe, gaining a social safety system layered on structured technology and 24/7 monitoring. This shift addresses the limitations of informal networks, offering more reliable protection in everyday situations where traditional public safety infrastructure may not suffice.