How I Feel Safer Walking Alone at Night While Female
I love the Noonlight app. I haven’t had to use it yet and hope I never do, but having it on my phone makes me feel safer like my mace does. As a woman, it gives me peace of mind if I have to walk somewhere alone at night.
Here’s how it works. When you open the app, the only thing there is a large button that says “Hold until safe”. If you’re in a situation that you feel unsafe in, you press the button. Like if you’re walking down a dark street as night as a woman and you think some guy is acting suspiciously. If you release the button, a Noonlight employee will text you to ask if you are okay. If you don’t assure them you are safe they will alert the police to dispatch someone to your location.
If you’re in a situation you know is dangerous, press the button once and don’t respond. But if you’re unsure if the situation is unsafe, keep your finger on the button until you are sure. Safe? Awesome, respond within ten seconds in the app that you are fine. Not safe? Don’t respond.
Zach Winkler conceived of the app. He realized that young women on college campuses did not feel safe walking alone at night. He realized they needed a more efficient way to ask for help. Sometimes circumstances make it impossible to call 911.
The app was offered only to college students, but now anyone can download the app and use it. The Android version is free. The iPhone version offers a free trial and then costs $2.99 a month, a small amount to pay for some peace of mind.
I couldn’t help myself, I had to press the button to see how quickly I got a response. Noonlight texted me immediately! I apologized and admitted I was testing the service. I was told that a lot of people do that when they get the app. The Noonlight employee told me not to worry, that they were glad I was okay. I was told not to hesitate to use the app if I needed to and to have a great night.
This app has helped people in real situations. One notable instance is a young boy in Colorado. He met what he thought was a teenage boy that he had met on social media. It turned out to be a 47-year-old man that made him get in the car. The boy was able to secretly press the Noonlight button on his phone. Noonlight alerted the local authorities. They shared real-time location services with the police, and they rescued the boy!
If you are a woman (or any person) who has to walk alone at night you should get this app. If you want an app on your phone that can make them safer in dangerous situations, you should get Noonlight.