The Resurgence of Personal Security Alarms: Why They're More Crucial Than Ever in Japan
In recent years, as crimes targeting socially vulnerable individuals such as children, women, and the elderly increase, the importance of "personal security alarms" (also known as personal alarms or panic alarms) is once again drawing attention. On X (formerly Twitter), numerous posts about these alarms have sparked lively discussions regarding their effectiveness, usage, and their necessity in modern society. Particularly shocking is the recent revelation of a kidnapper's statement: "I chose the child who wasn't wearing a personal security alarm on their backpack." This fact strongly suggests the effectiveness of "visible deterrence," where simply displaying a personal security alarm prominently can make criminals avoid the potential victim. One expert points out that personal security alarms create psychological effects such as making a person "less likely to be chosen as a target," appearing "likely to resist," and suggesting...