Would you put a TRACKER app on your teenager’s phone? Mothers left divided as some claim children are ‘entitled to privacy’ – but others insist it’s just ‘standard’
- People have discussed if its appropriate to put a tracker on your teens phone
- Writing on the parenting forum Mumsnet, one mother said she feels its ‘wrong’
- Many rushed to the comments, with some claiming teens are ‘entitled to privacy’
- Meanwhile others disagreed, saying tracker apps are ‘very standard’ and ‘useful’
A mother has sparked a debate after asking if others think placing ‘trackers on a teenager’s phone is wrong’.
Writing on British parenting forum Mumsnet, the anonymous woman shared her thoughts and asked others for their opinions.
The conversation was sparked after she explained that her daughter’s school receptionist gave her the impression she should have a tracker on her 16-year-old phone after she didn’t show up for a lesson.
Many rushed to the comments with some claiming teens are ‘entitled to privacy’ while others said tracker apps are ‘very standard’ and ‘useful’.
A British mother has sparked a discussion on Mumsnet after asking if others think ‘trackers on a teens phone is just wrong’ (stock image)
The mother explained: ‘Had a call from my dear child’s school on Friday. They are 16 in year 11. The receptionist said my dear child hadn’t been marked as attended to the last lesson and asked if I knew why, etc.
‘It turned out my dear daughter had crossed wires with the teacher in a mix-up, was on site, and it was all legitimate reasons, etc. Anyway, that’s not the point in the thread.
‘The receptionist asked me, “Do you have a tracker on her phone?” When I said no, she gave me the impression I should have one (not just my dear child but all teens).
‘I find this so odd! Surely, there should be a certain level of trust when your 15/16 + teens go out. I dated this guy who had a tracker on his 15 year olds phone, his kid was only cycling to his mates house and was tracked, which I thought was over the top.
The conversation was sparked after she explained that her daughters school receptionist gave her the impression she should have a tracker on her 16-year-old phone after she didn’t show up for a lesson
‘Reasons a parent might track: They live in an area with a very high crime rate where safety is a real high-risk issue.
‘Their child is known to be in lots of trouble a lot of the time, often breaking the law. They go “missing” for long periods and don’t appear home when they are supposed to.
‘Not for teens just hanging out with their mates in a fairly safe town. Surely, as I said, a certain level of trust has to come in somewhere, and even if they do make mistakes, that’s part of learning as you grow up. The thought of being “tracked” all the time by your parents just sounds odd to me!’
Many rushed to the comments and claimed that trackers were ‘useful’ and ‘very standard.’
Many parents rushed to the comments and claimed that trackers were ‘useful’ and ‘very standard’
One person wrote: ‘Tracker is useful, mainly when teen losers her phone! Don’t use it often but nice to know I can track her if I was ever worried.
‘Thought they were very standard, live in small city in urban area and everyone I know can track their child’s phone. Find my iPhone etc.’
Another said: ‘I have one for my teen’s phone. Handy if she’s on a school trip so I can check when they’re heading back.
‘Also useful for when she’s lost her phone. I think it will be a good thing when her social circle expands, if she ever gets into difficulty and doesn’t know exactly where she is.’
Someone else wrote: ‘Recently started tracking mine, it’s great. Means I can see at a flick that they are where they need to be – saves me pestering them.’
Others disagreed saying they found it ‘intrusive’ to follow their child online and that teenagers are ‘entitled to privacy’
Others disagreed, saying they found it ‘intrusive’ and that teens are ‘entitled to privacy.’
One person said: ‘I think it’s intrusive. How will our children ever learn independence if we don’t give them some freedom?’
Another wrote: ‘I don’t have one on my teenagers phone. They’re entitled to privacy, to make mistakes and learn from that. I find the idea really controlling to be honest.’
Someone else wrote: ‘No, never had them. Feels too intrusive and a bit helicopter parenting. If one of mine went missing, they’d be easy to locate on a friends Snap.
‘But I also teach them responsibility about how to stay safe in the outside world.’
Meanwhile others told stories of how tracking their children helped them find them quick in an emergency
Meanwhile others told stories of how tracking their children helped them find them quick in an emergency.
One wrote: ‘Dear daughter (14) went for a picnic with friends in a park in a nearby village. She wanted to leave and they didn’t.
‘She tried to find the station herself and got totally lost. She phoned me in tears. The tracking app gave me directions to her. Knowing I had her location kept her calm while she waited. Thank god for the app.’
While another wrote: ‘All the family use life 360, kids and parents. It was incredibly helpful when dear son had a bad accident and phoned us screaming in pain.
‘He was out in the fields round our village and we were able to quickly find him when he was completely incoherent.’
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