Tracking Children's Locations by Parents on Smartphones: Does It Really Protect Them from Danger?

- Tracking the locations of minor children by parents using smartphones may reassure them, and some families may even make the use of this feature mandatory for their children. But what about parents who track their adult children?

Does this alleviate their fears or increase their anxiety? A study from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, USA, published on Monday, revealed that more than half of parents track their adult children using digital technology.

According to the survey, about 25% of parents said that this monitoring can sometimes increase their fears instead of providing them with a sense of reassurance. Kara Alimo, a communication professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, who did not participate in the survey, reflected their feelings by saying, 'This type of tracking may increase parents' anxiety, especially since they only have one piece of information, but your brain wants to complete the rest of the picture, which forces them to make assumptions and jump to conclusions that may be correct and may not be.'

The survey also revealed the following percentages: According to the results, Sarah Clark, a research scientist at the University of Michigan and co-director of the survey, stated that none of these reasons justify the need to track adult children, noting that remote monitoring, in the absence of clear communication and setting appropriate boundaries, may harm the relationship between parents and children. It may also hinder the development of independence and critical thinking in young people.

However, she pointed out that location tracking is not always a bad thing, but it can easily turn negative when parents start to interfere in their children's lives. Safety is the motivation that reflects a sense of reassurance and preparedness for emergencies, the two reasons that achieved the highest percentage in the survey, highlighting the importance of the safety factor for parents.

The new survey included more than 1,500 parents who have at least one child aged between 18 and 25 years. However, Clark and Alimo warned parents against overestimating their ability to provide remote protection, as knowing the whereabouts of adult children may provide a sense of security, but these feelings of reassurance can be misleading.

Alimo pointed out that excessive parental control does not help children gain independence and self-reliance. She said, "I believe that teaching young people how to make responsible decisions on their own gives them greater security, and if they make a bad decision, knowing where they are won't necessarily solve the problem."

Alimo suggested instead tracking children during middle and high school to provide support and ensure their safety during the period when they begin to gain some independence. The importance of dialogue Almost all participants in the survey stated that their children were aware of the tracking process, but only half of the parents mentioned that participation in tracking was optional.

Clark noted that the transition from childhood to adulthood represents an appropriate opportunity for families to discuss whether mandatory location tracking is still suitable, pointing out that "what bothers me the most is the lack of dialogue. It's not about the children's awareness of tracking, but the absence of any role for them in determining the nature of this practice or how it is implemented."

Experts indicated that location tracking can be beneficial in some cases, but Clark and Alimo emphasized the need for parents to be open about their concerns and work with their children to build trust. Alimo stated that monitoring can be helpful when a daughter goes on her first date or when a son visits a new place for the first time.

She added that encouraging children to share their locations with a trusted friend could also be a good alternative. However, tracking should not be the only measure taken to ensure safety.

Alymo said: "By this age, we should have taught young people how to recognize situations that may become dangerous and avoid them from the outset, rather than relying on constant tracking by their parents." Clark added that depriving children, especially adults, of the necessary independence to make their own decisions could put pressure on their relationship with their parents and reinforce their feelings of distrust.

To facilitate starting these conversations, Clark urged parents to think about how they themselves were raised. In a time when location tracking technologies were not available, communication between parents and children relied on checking in from time to time.

She said: "If what parents want is for their children to communicate with them from time to time, an agreement can be reached on that without monitoring them. This could be a good way for adult children to say: Okay, I will respond to your messages."

Alymo urged parents to treat adult children in a mature manner, stating: "As adults, they should have the decision on whether they want to be monitored or not. This kind of practice teaches our children that constant surveillance is somehow normal."

She added: "This type of tracking may make them less safe and may contribute to the emergence of abusive or controlling relationships." Clark stated that giving children the space they need to grow and learn brings significant benefits, and this is something parents need to realize, especially since it is a fundamental part of the maturation process.

She added: "Some parents have not yet learned how to let their children rely on themselves and fly on their own. This includes making mistakes, missing a class, or being late for work."