How might smartphone use affect Leo's perception of crime?

• A. The factual basis for information received on social media devices is paramount to empirical evidence
• B. Smartphones have a knack for delivering crime reports and similar data with accuracy and relevancy
• C. Computerized crime reports are easily transmitted via smartphones
• D. Rapid dissemination of high-profile cases on social media devices may increase public perception of the threat of crime

Answer: (D)

Smartphone use shapes how Leo perceives crime by making certain crime stories highly visible and emotionally salient. When high-profile cases spread rapidly on social media, they grab attention, stick in memory, and stand out as representative of crime threats. This heightened exposure leverages the availability heuristic: if examples of crime are easy to recall, he’s more likely to judge crime as more common and dangerous than it actually is. The speed and reach of smartphones mean these dramatic stories can flood feeds, amplifying fear and perception of threat even if overall crime rates haven’t increased. The other options miss this perceptual effect—they focus on the factual basis, accuracy, or transmission of reports rather than how rapid, salient dissemination shapes belief about risk.