Genius App Lets Domestic Violence Victims Discreetly Seek Help
Victims of domestic violence can send for help using an app disguised as a news aggregator.
Contrary to its name, Aspire News is not really a news app.
It's a service that links victims of domestic violence with immediate help to access safety, resources, and hope—disguised as an ordinary news app.
Aspire News was developed by When Georgia Smiled, a nonprofit organization committed to helping victims of domestic violence, founded by Dr. Phil's wife, Robyn McGraw. Aspire News offers educational articles, as well as a hidden emergency hotline service. Though far from perfect, it's an incredible starting point in using technology to help victims of violence and assault.
The app is free and looks like a legitimate news aggregator.
The true purpose of the app is hidden, in case an abuser is tracking the victim's phone or other device.
The resources for victims are hidden in the "Help" section.
When Georgie Smiled collaborated with Yahoo!, whose team designed Aspire.
The Help page provides two options. You can seek immediate assistance or access educational resources.
Users can input the contact information of trusted friends and relatives, along with a personalized "distress signal."
If users find themselves in a compromising situation, they can enter the app, go to "Get Help," and tap three times. This will activate the distress signal, which will be sent to the user's contacts, letting them know the victim needs help.
There is also a resources page of local domestic violence and sexual assault hotlines and support groups.
While the app is a step in the right direction, it still contains many flaws.
For example, 911 dispatchers have pointed out that the app does NOT contact local authorities to notify them, but rather just the victim's personal contacts. Additionally, critics pointed out it takes too much effort on the victim's part to go through all the steps required to alert their contacts. It's not realistic to assume that someone who's being harmed or abused will have full access to the app.
The confusion surrounding who, exactly, the app notifies in case of an emergency stems from Dr. Phil's erroneous reporting on the app's functionality.
On the app's information video, Dr. Phil blatantly bulldozes over his wife by saying that the app contacts local authorities. Robyn updated the website's description to confirm that the app is NOT a replacement for 911 or contacting local authorities, but a way for victims to secretly contact family and friends to be taken to safety.
Although the app was developed in 2013, it became relevant again due to a viral Tumblr post that, unfortunately, repeated Dr. Phil's inaccurate statements.
There are very few apps dedicated to assisting victims of domestic violence. The need for an app that can quickly and stealthily assist victims without placing them in further harm is borne out by the numbers: Aspire News has been downloaded over 100K times on Android, along with unreported numbers from Apple.
Aspire News is a step in the right direction, but it's in serious need of updates to make it easier to use and to integrate a functionality that will enable users to contact local authorities.
If you or someone you know is being threatened or harmed, resources include your local authorities, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence .