8 great songs from video games that aren’t instrumentals

Some of the best video game songs have lyrics you can sing along to.

Sound is incredibly important in video games, both for conveying information and influencing the player’s mood. Video game history is packed with memorable tunes, from Tetris‘ rearrangement of Russian folk song “Korobeiniki,” to the iconic Super Mario Bros. theme, to Untitled Goose Game‘s innovative use of Debussy’s “Préludes.” Yet while instrumental tracks are by far the most common, some of the best video game songs also include vocals.

Early video games didn’t have the technology to include music with lyrics, limiting 8-bit games to compositions of chiptune beeps and trills. But an impressive catalogue of vocal video game songs has formed since then, many of which are more than capable of standing on their own.

Here are some of the best video game songs that feature vocals, listed in chronological order. Beware: There will be spoilers ahead.

1. ‘Snake Eater’ from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

If your video game’s opening cinematic is going to be inspired by James Bond films, it needs to include a dramatic theme song. 2004 stealth action game Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater does not disappoint. Written by Norihiko Hibino and crooned by Cynthia Harrell, the bombastic “Snake Eater” wouldn’t be out of place in any Bond film, which feels thematically appropriate considering the game is about a super spy.

“Snake Eater” is also played during a lengthy scene in which the player climbs a very tall ladder. Steadily climbing a ridiculously tall ladder for two minutes doesn’t sound like a fun video game moment, but the song made it one of the celebrated game’s most memorable sequences.

2. ‘Baba Yetu’ from Sid Meier’s Civilization IV

One of the best parts of Civilization IV is the sound of “Baba Yetu” playing over the menu screen, which is saying a lot. The turn-based strategy game was universally lauded upon its release in 2005, and still holds up today even after the release of subsequent games in the series.

Composed by Christopher Tin and originally performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, “Baba Yetu” was the first video game song ever nominated for a Grammy, winning Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) at the 2011 awards. Its Swahili lyrics are a translation of the Lord’s Prayer, and the song has since been performed by numerous choirs around the globe.

3. ‘Still Alive’ from Portal

“Still Alive” is an obvious inclusion on this list. The game song that launched a thousand memes, Portal‘s credits track encapsulated the puzzle platformer’s deadpan humour and brought the game to a satisfying conclusion in a unique way that has since inspired many others.

Composed by Jonathan Coulton and sung by Ellen McLain, “Still Alive” is written from the point of view of GLaDOS, the murderous, science-obsessed artificial intelligence that the player is trying to escape. The song was so well received that Coulton later followed it up with Portal 2‘s end credits song “Want You Gone,” which was also performed by McLain, the voice of GLaDOS.

4. ‘Setting Sail, Coming Home’ from Bastion

Supergiant Games’ hack-and-slash title Bastion gained significant attention upon its 2011 release for its distinctive narrator and visual style. But it also seized players through composer Darren Korb’s brilliant soundtrack, including the uplifting end theme “Setting Sail, Coming Home.”

Sung by Korb and Ashley Lynn Barrett, “Setting Sail, Coming Home” is a mashup of two previous songs in the game: “Mother, I’m Here (Zulf’s Theme)” and “Build That Wall (Zia’s Theme).” The game is set in the wake of a catastrophic event that literally breaks the world apart, Zulf and Zia being two survivors that represent opposing paths the player can take in response to the disaster. Not only is the combination of their themes musically satisfying, it also evokes a feeling of moving on — though exactly what that means depends on your decisions.

SEE ALSO:

7 underrated songs from beloved animations (that aren’t Disney movies)

5. ‘Everything’s Alright’ from To the Moon

Part of what makes a good video game song is what’s happening when the player first hears it. Written and performed by Laura Shigihara, “Everything’s Alright” appears during To the Moon‘s devastating climax to deliver an emotional gut punch to the player — one that reduced many to tears. It’s a far cry from Shigihara’s bright Plants vs. Zombies‘ ditty “Zombie on Your Lawn.”

To the Moon follows two technicians who alter dying people’s memories, allowing them to pass on without regrets. Tasked with making their client believe he’s been to the moon, they eventually discover the only way to do this is to erase all memory of his beloved wife. This leads to a painful montage in which his history is rewritten without her, set to Shigihara’s sweet yet melancholy vocals. To the Moon looks at the question of whether it’s better to have loved and lost or never loved at all, and answers, “Why not both?”

6. ‘Paper Boats’ from Transistor

It’s impossible to choose just one song from Supergiant Games’ beautifully scored indie offerings, especially with Transistor‘s soundtrack in the mix. This turn-based action game leans even more heavily on song than its predecessor, following famous singer Red as she tracks down a powerful cabal after they try to kill her. As such, Transistor is heavily complimented by Darren Korb’s compositions, with Ashley Lynn Barrett lending her vocals to Red for songs such as “We All Become” and “In Circles.”

While all Transistor‘s songs are great, one of the most memorable is left for the bittersweet pre-credits ending montage. “Paper Boats” is an intimate love song from Red to her unnamed partner, who she was physically separated from throughout the game. Korb’s vocals also appear on the track, underscoring the lovers’ eventual reunion.

7. ‘Life Will Change’ from Persona 5

From its slick user interface to its sharp character design, Persona 5 is pure style — and its catchy acid jazz-inspired soundtrack is no exception. The Japanese role-playing game immediately commands attention with its striking opening animation set to “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There,” one of the 110 songs on Persona 5‘s official soundtrack. But while the first song players hear is undoubtedly an earworm, it was the invigorating “Life Will Change” that took top spot in publisher Atlas’ popularity poll.

Like the opening song, “Life Will Change” was composed by Shoji Meguro, with lyrics by Benjamin Franklin and vocals by Lyn Inaizumi. The game follows a group of rebellious vigilante teenagers who supernaturally enter immoral adults’ psyches in order to confront their evil desires, and this energising tune kicks in just before Persona 5‘s boss battles. “Life Will Change” is a great boost of energy that hypes players up for these difficult fights, while also making them feel incredibly cool.

8. ‘Your Reality’ from Doki Doki Literature Club

Doki Doki Literature Club looks like a cute dating sim that lets you join a high school club and woo one of its members. In reality, it’s a terrifying meta psychological horror filled with disturbing themes, made all the more intense by deceptively innocent trappings such as its sweet ending song “Your Reality.”

Written by Dan Salvato and sung by Jillian Ashcraft, “Your Reality” is performed by club president Monika for the player at the end of Doki Doki Literature Club — a last ditch effort to convey her affection for them, as well as a goodbye. Though it sounds like a bright, straightforward love song, and could be enjoyed as such, the lyrics take on extra meaning in the context of the game. It’s a highly unconventional villain song, providing a glimpse at the mindset driving her terrible actions.


There are many other great video game songs with lyrics as well. “POP/STARS” by K/DA was produced to promote League of Legends, though it never actually plays during the popular multiplayer online battle arena game. And while the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” definitely wasn’t written for Bioshock Infinite, its rendition by barbershop quartet A Mighty Wind is certainly worth a listen.

How to create a privacy zone on Strava

Use privacy zones to hide specific addresses on Strava.

Strava has a solution for users with privacy concerns.

Strava is a fitness tracking app that incorporates social media features. It allows you to record a wide variety of activities from running to windsurfing and share your activities with your followers. Depending on your privacy settings, your workout route is shared on to everyone, to your followers, or kept private. Unfortunately, if you make your activities only visible to your followers or completely private you cannot participate in challenges on the app.

If you’re nervous about posting runs that begin or end at your home or work, but you still want to participate in challenges, Strava has the option to create privacy zones which hide specific areas in your workout. You can adjust the size of the radius from one-eighth mile to one mile. The privacy zone only applies where you start and end an activity, so if you pass through a privacy zone on a run it will still show up on your activity map.

Because we know how important your safety is, we’ve broken down to how to create a privacy zone on Strava.

How to create a privacy zone on Strava:

1. Open the Strava app

2. Tap the gear in the upper right hand corner

Tap the gear icon to access your settings.

Tap the gear icon to access your settings.
Credit: screenshot: strava

3. Scroll down and select “Privacy Controls”

Tap "Privacy Controls" to access privacy zones.

Tap “Privacy Controls” to access privacy zones.
Credit: screenshot: Strava

4. Select “Privacy Zones”

Tap "Privacy Zones" under "Additional Controls."

Tap “Privacy Zones” under “Additional Controls.”
Credit: screenshot: strava

5. Select “Add a Privacy Zone”

Tap "Add a Privacy Zone" to hide a specific address.

Tap “Add a Privacy Zone” to hide a specific address.
Credit: screenshot: strava

6. Enter the address you want hidden

Enter the address you want to be hidden.

Enter the address you want to be hidden.
Credit: screenshot: strava

7. Adjust the radius of your privacy zone

Use the gray circle to adjust the radius of your privacy zone.

Use the gray circle to adjust the radius of your privacy zone.
Credit: screenshot: strava

8. Tap “Add” in the upper right hand corner

American Airlines adds TikTok to free inflight entertainment

Fasten your seatbelts.

TikTokkers rejoice. American Airlines wants you to enjoy your favorite app at 30,000 feet. The airline announced Tuesday that TikTok is now a part of its free inflight entertainment.

Passengers now get 30 minutes of free TikTok access on all American Airlines single-aisle planes equipped with Viasat WiFi. While the airline’s library of movies, shows, and online learning classes are also free, browsing the internet will cost you (starting at $10 per session or $49.95 for a monthly subscription.)

Over the past few years, American Airlines has upgraded the majority of its aircraft with high-speed satellite WiFi.

Once in airplane mode and connected to the plane’s WiFi network, passengers will be redirected to the American Airlines online portal. From there, they can click on the TikTok ad that pops up and begin to bask in the warm glow of Vitamin T.

TikTok, owned by Beijing company ByteDance, has an estimated 732 million monthly active users.

American Airlines pointed out in a press release that TikTok isn’t just for Gen Z. Yes, there are a lot of dance challenges, but travelers of all generations can explore the app using hashtags like #travel, #traveltips, and #traveltheworld.

Welcome aboard, TikTokkers. Just please don’t block the food cart.

How to download TikTok videos

Use the save video function to download your favorite TikToks.

Love a TikTok so much that you want to keep it on your phone and treasure it forever? You can do that with the save video function.

Save video allows you to save your favorite TikToks to your phone’s photo library. Downloading TikTok videos allows you to have access to a TikTok regardless if the user deletes it or if TikTok takes it down. Downloading a TikTok video can also streamline sharing a TikTok with your more offline friends who may not have the app.

Unfortunately you can’t save all TikToks, the user who posts a TikTok has to allow downloads for their video. If the “Save video” option doesn’t come up, that means the TikTok user doesn’t have downloads turned on for their account.

But, you could always screen record the TikTok instead.

To save a TikTok, follow the steps below.

How to Download a TikTok video:

1. Open the TikTok app

2. Navigate to the video you want to save

3. Tap the white arrow on the left side of the screen

Tap the arrow to view sharing options for the TikTok.

Tap the arrow to view sharing options for the TikTok.
Credit: screenshot: tiktok

4. Tap the upside down arrow that says “Save Video” to save the video

Downloads are on, so you can save the video by tapping "Save video."

Downloads are on, so you can save the video by tapping “Save video.”
Credit: screenshot: TikTok

For a movie night under the stars, an outdoor projector is your best bet

Gathering the family to watch a film everyone agrees on (Space Jam?) under the stars: Now that’s a summer night. To turn your yard into a home theater, though, you’ll need a projector — one that works just as well outside as it does in.

While the majority of projectors aren’t marketed exclusively for outdoor use, there are plenty of options that will suit backyards, rooftops, and porches. You’ll even be able to take super portable projectors on camping trips.

You’ll just need to keep a few key specs in mind, including brightness, portability, throw distance, and sound. Whatever the particular needs of your outdoor space, there’s probably a projector on this list for you.

Features to keep in mind

It’s pretty easy to control the light level indoors: If you want it to be darker, turn the lights off and close the blinds. Outdoors, the light level is largely out of your hands — all you can do is wait for the sun to set and hope there isn’t too much ambient light for your picture to handle.

Keep your yard’s brightness level in mind while choosing a projector. If you aren’t worried about ambient light — you live in a rural area with very little light pollution, for example, or your backyard is far away from your neighbors — brightness may not be your biggest concern. If you anticipate environmental light getting in the way, though, go for one of the brighter options on the list. (Here, brightness is recorded in lumens.)

Then, there’s throw distance, which refers to the distance between the projector’s lens and the screen. A projector with a long throw distance is able to project a high-quality image while sitting farther away from the screen; a projector with a shorter throw distance should sit closer to the screen. If you’re in a big backyard, you may want a longer throw distance. For a rooftop, tiny porch, or apartment green space, a shorter throw distance will be ideal.

Choosing the right projector for your space’s size can be tricky, so we’ve tried our best to specify the locations in which our picks will work best. If you’d like to read further, there are several informative guides out there. Our favorite is on the Epson blog and includes a useful throw distance calculator.

You can’t store a projector outside, so we’ve made sure to feature relatively lightweight options that are easy to lug out to the backyard. Each of our picks weighs under 10 pounds; still, If you want to travel with your projector, you’ll probably want the lightest option possible.

What other supplies will I need?

The projector will do lots of the work for you, as well it should. But if you’re building an outdoor theater from scratch, there are a few other supplies you’ll need as well, including:

  • A screen on which to project. This could be anything from an actual screen intended for outdoor use to a white sheet to a wall to the side of your garage.

  • A separate sound system, potentially. A lot of projectors — especially lightweight ones — don’t have great built-in speakers. We suggest purchasing a separate set of external speakers, especially if the projector’s built-in speakers provide less than 5 watts of sound.

  • A power strip and extension cords, if your projector doesn’t run on battery. Extra batteries if it does.

  • Seating for guests, preferably unobtrusive options like pillows and low-to-the-ground folding chairs. You’ll also want to keep a stash of blankets nearby in case it gets cold.

  • Snacks! No need to be sneaky about outside food when the movie theater is your own backyard.

Here are our picks for the best outdoor projectors. Better start polling the fam about that movie. Or maybe everyone can just play Super Smash Bros.

Camila Cabello is one magical ‘Cinderella’ in first trailer

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful maiden and her honorable… small business? Well, OK!

On Tuesday, Amazon Prime Video dropped a magical first trailer for its take on Cinderella, starring pop princess Camila Cabello as the iconic fairytale character. Written and directed by Kay Cannon, best known for writing the Pitch Perfect movies, this adaptation puts a modern twist on the classic love story — adding a feminist subplot surrounding Ella’s fashion aspirations, modern tracks like Queen’s “Find Me Somebody To Love,” and a star-studded cast full of 2021 favs.

Alongside Cabello, you’ll see Idina Menzel as the wicked stepmother; Pierce Brosnan and Minnie Driver as the King and Queen; James Corden as a helpful mouse-turned-footman; Billy Porter as Cinderella’s fairy godparent; and, of course, there’s Nicholas Galitzin as Prince Charming.

Cinderella begins streaming Sept. 3 on Amazon Prime Video.

How NYC confused everyone over its not-an-app vaccination ‘pass’

You can either use your phone or your physical vaccination card.

On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new initiative called the “Key to NYC Pass,” requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for indoor settings like restaurants, gyms, and concert venues.

As reported by the New York Times, “To enter indoor venues, [workers and customers] must use the city’s new digital app, the state’s Excelsior app, or a paper card to show proof of vaccination.”

If you’re a little bit confused about what the “pass” part of all this is, you’re not alone —it certainly (and understandably) caused confusion around the Twitterverse.

Prepare to be unconfused. Hopefully. “The city’s new digital app” doesn’t refer to the Key to NYC Pass (that’s the NYC COVID SAFE app, which was released on July 29), and despite the use of the word “pass,” there’s no new physical pass at all. That’s simply what the State of New York is calling its new mandate.

“[Key to NYC Pass] is not an app. It’s just a requirement to use one of the existing ways to show proof — CDC card, Excelsior Pass, NYC COVID SAFE app,” said spokesperson Laura Feyer in an email to Mashable. If you do want to use an app, you can opt for the latter of the two.

Mayor de Blasio echoed the same statement during Tuesday’s livestream from City Hall: “We’ve got three great ways for people to prove that they are vaccinated. We need people to use one of those things if they want to go to indoor dining, entertainment, or fitness facilities.”

So, no, you don’t have to download yet another app to your phone. You can use any of those aforementioned ways.

But it’s worth noting, the Excelsior Pass is only applicable to those who received their COVID-19 vaccine (or a negative test result) in the State of New York. The NYC COVID Safe app, on the other hand, allows anyone to upload their vaccine card or weekly proof of a negative test result from any state.

If you don’t want to store your card on your phone via an app, your other option is to carry it around on your indoor journeys through NYC. Just make sure to hang on to it tight. And if you don’t have a card — or a vaccine — yet, get one: The policy will be fully enforced for everyone old enough to receive vaccines come September 13.

Head back to school with a 2-in-1 Asus Chromebook on sale

A laptop that's also a tablet? Anything is possible if you believe.

Save $60: The Asus Chromebook Flip C433 2-in-1 laptop (14-inch FHD touchscreen, 8GB RAM, 64GB eMMC storage) is on sale for $419.99 at Amazon as of Aug. 3.


A Chromebook is a great fit for most students going back to school. Lightweight and easy to carry for a full day of classes, they take care of the basics — usually at very reasonable prices.

If you have a little more cash to spend in the Chromebook department, consider grabbing this versatile Asus Chromebook, which can replace both your old laptop and old tablet.

SEE ALSO:

Wayfair’s ‘Save Big, Give Back’ sale is full of home and dorm picks under $100

The Asus Chromebook Flip C433 2-in-1 laptop with a 14-inch FHD touchscreen is on sale for $419.99 at Amazon. With the $60 discount, this particular model is down to its lowest Amazon price yet — and it’s a real dual threat.

The Asus Flip C433 is built with an Intel Core m3-8100Y process with 8GB of included RAM and 64GB of internal eMMC storage. It won’t support the latest PC games, but it does just enough for students who mainly need it for writing, online research, and other common tasks. Students will especially enjoy how light it is: just 3.3 pounds.

But what sets the Flip C433 apart from more basic Chromebook models is its 2-in-1 design. It can switch seamlessly from a laptop to tent and stand modes for presentations. You also get a full tablet mode where you get to enjoy the full benefits of the 14-inch FHD touch display that boasts ultra-thin edges.

Save $60 at Amazon

Credit: Asus

Save $60 at Amazon

Buying Options

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Explore related content:

  • Best 2-in-1 laptops for the best of both worlds

  • Need a laptop that won’t break the bank? Here are the best options for under $300.

  • Best laptops for students: See where the MacBook falls on our list

I swapped my office chair for a kneeling chair and it was surprisingly versatile

A kneeling chair can be a surprisingly versatile work from home seating option.

My job involves a computer almost entirely, which means, among many benefits, that I’m sitting all the time. The extended work-from-home limbo that I have gratefully inhabited during the pandemic has reduced significantly the amount of walking I do – to the train, up the stairs, to the break area or the bathroom. Since I cannot exist without working some minimum amount, and I’ve made my choices as to industry, I’ve turned my focus to my chair.

“Active sitting” postures, ones that lightly engage your core or legs while you’re resting, can counteract some of the drawbacks of a sedentary lifestyle. Essentially, you’re not quite as sedentary as you are when you’re laying on the couch. People in Western and industrialized nations spend 9-10 hours a day sitting, according to the University of Southern California, often in chairs that place the body at 90-degree angles. This encourages slouching and puts a lot of pressure on the spine, often leading to back pain.

Squatting and kneeling encourage a more natural posture, but people who grew up without regular use of these postures tend to find them very difficult to hold.

Enter: Kneeling chairs.

What is a kneeling chair?

Kneeling chairs – the name is almost an oxymoron – are supportive structures designed to allow a person to maintain a kneeling-like posture despite not having joints that can actually kneel for long periods. They place the pelvis at roughly a 20 degree angle and have pads for the shins to rest on. Kneeling chairs also distribute the body’s weight between the shins and the butt, lessening the burden on the tailbone.

I tested out two kneeling chairs: The Variable Balans by Varier ($349) and the Fully Balans Kneeling Chair (currently sold out at Fully). Here’s how they measure up over several weeks of use.

The Variable Balans vs. the Fully Balans

Both chairs are beautiful to look at and are descendants of an original “balans” prototype from designer Hans Christian Mengshoel. Scandinavian designers, fortified with a new understanding of ergonomics and how the body reacts to sitting in a chair for long periods, attempted to design their way to a solution. Balans chairs encouraged the body “to support itself.” The Variable Balans was designed in 1979 by famed Norwegian designer Peter Opsvik.

The aesthetic: A classic example of Scandi design, the light wood goes with pretty much everything and the upholstery was high-quality on both chairs. The Fully Balans comes in a variety of colors, while the Variable Balans was only available from Fully in black upholstery. However, the Variable can be purchased directly from Varier in a wider range of colors, and the MoMA Design Store has a few exclusive colorways available as well.

Set up: Assembling the Fully Balans took about 40 minutes, about twice as long as the Variable, since it has more pieces and castor wheels. When I first tried to assemble the Variable Balans, a manufacturing defect required a replacement part. But, calling customer service got a replacement shipped quickly.

Weight limits: The weight limit is 225 lbs on the Fully Balans and 240 lbs for the Variable Balans.

Comfort: Both kneeling chairs were a comfortable height at a standard computer desk, and overall, they were both more comfortable than my classic office chair. As with any seating option, it’s wise to pay attention to your desk-surface height and your monitor height. You should make sure that you can look straight ahead at your monitor and rest your arms lightly on your keyboard without hunching your shoulders. I felt a little awkward at first, as if I were perched above the fray of normal life, but adjusted quickly.

Even then, it’s wise to take regular breaks from sitting. Comfortable chair aside, I’ve realized that I still need to remember to get up and move around. Remote workers with a lot of meetings will want to build in breaks. Similarly to sitting in the Tick Tock Chair, I noticed when I’d been sitting too long. My legs, arms, and shoulders would become uncomfortable.

But frankly, that’s true with any chair, and I notice discomfort and fidgeting faster with my “executive-style” chair. Since the kneeling chairs lack arm rests, they can be placed closer to a desk at a variety of heights, making it easier to reach the keyboard without straining.

Which chair wins?

My Fully Balans chair came with the optional backrest, which I appreciated immensely. Had I tested the Variable Balans with a backrest, I think it might have taken the prize. But the Fully Balans chair had a thicker cushion and I was comfortable sitting in it for longer periods of time.

That said, the Fully Balans is also clunkier, and doesn’t push under a desk as well as the Variable Balans. I also wish I’d realized that I could sit on the Variable Balans backward (check this video). That would have been a good option for when kneeling became uncomfortable and I wanted to switch back to regular sitting.

In both chairs, I got fatigued kneeling in them for longer periods of time. I wished that there was an easier way to use them as regular chairs, but my legs aren’t long enough to comfortably sit around the kneeling support pieces. If you are a person who is 5’7” or taller, this might not be an issue. Having subsequently seen some videos of the multiple ways a user can sit in the Variable Balans, I’m inclined to conclude that it’s the more flexible chair overall. I’d like to try out some of those other positions (sitting on the chair backwards or with one foot resting on the kneeling pad) and see how that affected my workday.

The chairs’ material also had a tendency to itch my shins after prolonged use, especially in an office without air conditioning. I suspect that this would be less annoying when wearing pants instead of shorts.

Add to cart?

At this point in my work life, I’ve more or less accepted that there is no perfect seating option. Instead, I’m considering how to spread different types of work across different spaces and configuration – a task made easier because I work remotely. Perhaps reading can be done laying down on the couch instead of adding to my sitting-at-a-computer time, for example. That said, modern office chairs are among the least flexible pieces of furniture, and I found the portability and flexibility of the kneeling chairs – the Variable Balans especially – to be a strong selling point. Their aesthetics also earned them points in an apartment where no furniture can be hidden away.

Citizen app launches paid service to monitor you through your phone

Citizen is launching a paid subscription service that will provide customers with premium personal safety features.

Would you pay a subscription for the neighborhood watch app Citizen?

On Tuesday, the controversial mobile app which lets users report on local crime and other incidents announced a $19.99 premium service called Citizen Protect that offers 24/7 access to “highly trained safety experts.”

The premium Protect service, which is now available for iOS, began testing earlier this year with nearly 100,000 beta users. One new feature that particularly stands out allows the company to monitor your smartphone audio using AI-powered technology.

The Citizen Protect service is designed to provide customers with a live, human safety expert on-demand. The company is promoting this as a way to have “peace of mind when you’re alone” or a way to call for help in situations where a customer would not or could not call 911.

Citizen’s safety experts could then send emergency responders directly to a Citizen Protect customer’s location or direct them to a spot where they would be safe, notify family members of an incident, and alert other users in the area.

“Citizen has been a one-way system to date. We provide real-time situational awareness and our users can decide what to do with it,” said Citizen CEO Andrew Frame in a statement emailed to Mashable. “Starting today, Citizen is now a two-way system where users can request help from Citizen.”

Mashable Image


Credit: Citizen

Citizen Protect comes with a “Get Agent” button which a user simply taps to connect to a safety expert. Customers could interact with the agent via video call, voice chat, or text message, which Citizen says can be helpful when a customer needs to be discreet.

Premium features also include “Protect Mode.” When this mode is turned on, users can choose to enable “Shake for Agent” and “Distress Detection.” Shake for Agent works exactly how it sounds: Users can shake their phone twice to connect directly to a Citizen agent.

Distress Detection is a mode which allows Citizen’s AI-technology to monitor audio through your phone. If it detects a “distress signal,” such as a scream, the app will ask if you want to be connected to an agent. A user will then have 10 seconds to respond, at which point they’ll be automatically connected to a live agent in case of an emergency situation.

Mashable reached out to Citizen to discuss privacy concerns related to this feature. For example, while a Citizen Protect mode customer may consent to Distress Detection, a nearby non-customer third-party could surely have concerns about the service spying or snooping on them.

A Citizen spokesperson assured us that “Protect Mode is only powered by AI, which means no human is ever listening to a user’s audio.”

The spokesperson also claimed that Citizen did not record any audio via Distress Detection. Any data from Protect that is recorded, such as location data, is “deleted after 30 days.”

Citizen has given its users plenty of reason to be concerned about these new Protect features. And it’s certainly not the first time the company has been criticized over its services.

Mashable Image


Credit: citizen

As anyone can report incidents on the app, false information found on Citizen has previously been used to fear-monger within neighborhood messaging apps and local Facebook Groups.

A recent report from Motherboard uncovered that Citizen was testing out on-demand private security services. These privatized “emergency responders” were even seen in the field while patrolling Los Angeles.

Citizen was also recently roundly criticized following an incident where its CEO Andrew Frame offered a $30,000 reward for anyone who could find alleged arsonists said to be behind wildfires in California. The CEO even included a photograph of the suspect. However, Frame soon had to apologize as it turned out the individual he’d put a bounty on was the wrong guy.

It’s unclear whether a market exists for such a paid service, especially given the company’s troubled history.

UPDATE: Aug. 3, 2021, 1:38 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with information from a Citizen spokesperson regarding the service’s Distress Detection feature.