Like, Comment, and Surveil: The Social Consequences of Crime Alerting Apps

Smartphone applications related to the crowdsourced generation and dissemination of crime data have gained rapid popularity among concerned citizens in the United States. Despite the relative ubiquity of this technology in our daily lives, few studies have explored what possible effects these apps could have on users' attitudes and behaviors surrounding crime and suspicion, as well as the effects of these apps on society as a whole. This study seeks to provide an overview of some of the major risks and opportunities associated with these apps by pulling from a wide variety of sources, including app reviews, field observations, interviews, user-generated content, and the publications put out by these platforms, while also pulling from prior research and reporting in this field. Drawing from this diverse dataset, this study makes three key findings: First, I find that these platforms can, under the right conditions, promote social organization around public safety. Second, I find that these apps are designed in such a way that they can foster a culture of excessive suspicion and paranoia, which in turn allows for bullying and racial profiling to flourish on these platforms. Third, I find that these apps often position themselves as an alternative to law enforcement and other official public safety strategies, even as they seek partnerships with these agencies to improve their legitimacy. This may have concerning implications as it relates to vigilantism, while also sowing confusion among users and leaving them susceptible to certain forms of manipulation. Lastly, this study lays out several recommendations for policymakers to capitalize on the opportunities provided by this technology while mitigating its risks.