Location tracking apps via smartphones are a common way to keep track of your child outside of the home. However, it can be difficult to find the right balance between children’s privacy and their safety.
See guidance below to help you make the right choice for you family.
Location tracking uses GPS to pinpoint a person’s location usually within a few metres. It generally involves using an app on your smartphone or tablet.
Many families use apps like Google Maps and Apple’s ‘Find My’. However, there are also apps specifically designed for families, such as Life360. Most of these apps not only offer location tracking but also features like alerts when someone leaves a certain place.
Many parents choose to use location tracking for safety reasons. Always knowing where your child is can reduce a lot of stress, especially when your child goes to school or visits friends on their own. It can be reassuring to know that you can locate your child immediately if something happens.
Children between the ages of 10 and 15 also often appreciate their parents knowing where they are. Although they rarely find themselves in dangerous situations, sharing their location can give them a sense of safety.
While location tracking has many benefits, there are also downsides for you to consider.
Some parents might struggle with the line between care and control. What seems like a logical safety measure to a parent can feel like over-control to a child. This is especially true for teenagers, who tend to seek more autonomy. It’s important to make clear agreements about the use of location tracking apps.
Here are some tips to help you find the right balance.
Talk to your child about why you want to track their location. Explain that it’s about safety, not control. Make sure it’s a mutual decision and that your child agrees with it. This can help build trust and prevent your child from feeling overly monitored.
Discuss when and how often you’ll check their location. You might not need to know their exact location all the time, but perhaps you just want to be alerted when they arrive at or leave specific places, such as school or a friend’s house.
As children get older, they need more freedom. Consider turning off the tracking at times when it’s not really necessary. For example, you could ask a responsible teenager to inform you when they get home instead of tracking them.
Location tracking can be helpful, but it should not replace communication and trust within the family. Regularly ask your child about their day and trust that they will be honest about where they are going.
Before using a location tracking app, ask yourself: ‘Why do I really want this?’ Is it about safety or control? Sometimes we use technology simply because it’s available, not because we truly need it.
While location tracking provides reassurance in the short term, it can have an impact on your child’s development in the long run. Children may be less likely to make decisions independently or take responsibility for their own safety.
Location tracking apps can be a useful way to keep your child safe and often provide peace of mind for parents. However, it’s important to remember that safety doesn’t always mean having full control over everything. A healthy parent-child relationship requires trust, communication and respect for each other.
If you choose to use a location tracking app, ensure that it’s a joint decision and that clear agreements are made about how and when it will be used. This way, you can keep your child safe without compromising their independence and privacy.
In a world where technology plays an ever-growing role, it’s important to reflect on why we make certain choices and what the potential consequences might be. Location tracking can certainly be useful, but it is no substitute for building trust and maintaining open communication within the family.
