An Analysis of PositiveCyb

PositiveCyb addressed an issue present in many environments such as in the workplace, a learning environment, or in a public environment. The knowledge of merely the app's existence can deter others from messing with a supposed victim through the mere threat presented by the app owner. The most appropriate thing I found about the idea was that it could prevent many illegal or violent incidents from occurring or assisting the capture of anyone involved in it. However, I find it being exploitable into being unfaithful for its intended purpose. The unknown possibility of spying on the app owner can lead to uncertainty that may be akin to how George Orwell's "1984" employs the method of "Big Brother." "Big Brother" employs a methodology that manipulates how we interact each other. PositiveCyb assumes that it will only use the data in a useful way, and starts to record audio after a word or phrase is said matching its filter. The lack of a possible income source and the vulnerability of how user data can be used will deter possible consumers from installing the app. The app emits the idea of intrusion into our daily lives that many would dislike. For example, an individual may commonly swear or joking say inappropriate words to a significant other or friend. As a result, this may trigger the app's recording and in turn may communicate with the wrong people due to a misleading situation. Although it was stated during the presentation that the app would differentiate between an aggressive and joking tone, I find it difficult it would able to do so without recording audio. This audio can be sold to third parties such as marketing companies in order to cater to people who say similar things. Although the concept itself has a good promise and possibly good intentions for the victim, but I find the vulnerability of the app's spy-ability to be too great to maintain, and I do not think PositiveCyb is a proper method to treating bullying in real life situations.