Jeremiah, 18, feels like he’s being watched at all times.

    If he makes an unplanned stop after school, he usually gets a text from his parents. They track him using a location-sharing app called Life360. 

    “They ask a million questions: Why did you stop? Who are you with?” he says. “It’s like they forget I’m a person and not just a dot on a map.”

    Location sharing has become a normal part of growing up. One survey showed that 45 percent of parents track their kids’ location. 

    But not everyone is sure tracking apps are a great idea. Sure, they may help keep kids safe. But what about teens’ freedom and privacy as they get older?

    Jeremiah, 18, feels like he’s always being watched.

    If he makes a stop after school, he gets a text from his parents. They track him using a location-sharing app called Life360. 

    “They ask a million questions: Why did you stop? Who are you with?” he says. “It’s like they forget I’m a person and not just a dot on a map.”

    Location sharing has become common for families. One survey showed that 45 percent of parents track their kids. 

    But not everyone thinks that’s a good thing. Tracking apps may help keep kids safe. But don’t teens need some freedom and privacy as they get older?

    Jeremiah, 18, feels like he’s constantly being watched.

    If he makes an unplanned stop after school, he usually receives a text from his parents, who track him using a location-sharing app called Life360. 

    “They ask a million questions: Why did you stop? Who are you with?” he says. “It’s like they forget I’m a person and not just a dot on a map.”

    Location sharing has become a normal part of growing up. According to one survey, 45 percent of parents track their kids. 

    But not everyone is convinced that tracking apps are a great idea. Sure, they may help keep kids safe—but what about teenagers’ freedom and privacy as they get older?

    To understand the debate over tracking apps, it’s important to know how they work. These apps use GPS technology to find your device’s location. A parent can then track your movements as a dot on a map. 

    The main reason parents follow their kids is peace of mind. Seeing where you are lets them know that you’re safe. Some apps even send an alert if you leave a certain area. Others make sure teens who drive don’t speed.

    Gina Barnard is a parent who tracks her two daughters. She believes that it gives them more freedom. “I don’t have to bug them by asking where they are all the time,” she says. 

    Her daughter Atalie, 17, agrees. In fact, she pays attention to where her family is too. The app shows her if her mom is at the grocery store or on her way home. “Honestly, I like having it,” Atalie says. For her, it makes life easier. 

    How do tracking apps work? They use GPS technology to locate your device. Parents can then see your movements as a dot on a map. 

    Parents track their kids mainly for peace of mind. Seeing where you are lets them know you’re safe. Some apps send an alert if you leave a certain area. Others make sure teens who drive don’t speed.

    Gina Barnard is a parent who tracks her two daughters. She says it gives them more freedom. “I don’t have to bug them by asking where they are all the time,” she says. 

    Her daughter Atalie, 17, agrees. She uses the app too. It shows her if her mom is at the store or heading home. “I like having it,” she says. For her, it makes life easier.

    To understand the debate over tracking apps, it’s important to know how they work. These apps use GPS technology to find your device’s location. A parent can then track your movements as a dot on a map. 

    The main reason parents follow their kids is peace of mind. Seeing where you are lets them know that you’re safe. Some apps even send an alert if you leave a certain area. Others make sure teens who drive aren’t speeding.

    Gina Barnard, a parent who tracks her two daughters, believes that the tracking actually gives the kids more freedom. “I don’t have to bug them by asking where they are all the time,” she explains. 

    Her daughter Atalie, 17, agrees—and in fact, she pays attention to her family’s locations too. The app shows her if her mom is at the grocery store or on her way home. “Honestly, I like having it,” Atalie says. For her, it makes life easier.