Tracking On Phones.

I would hate it. A friend of mine uses it with her 40+ year old children, which I don't understand at all. I think they track her too though, so I assume it is by mutual consent.

If Mr Dog wanted to go on a long hike or something I might suggest it, but would switch it off when he got back.

Bobbysgirl you are right, it is used as a stalking device. I would say that it’s fine for parents to track their children and teens on their phones, it’s not right for a husband or wife to track their spouse. It’s an element of control and it’s unhealthy.

Whilst I can see it could be of use in emergency situations, in general I think it’s intrusive and an invasion of privacy.
A friend I was with, on examining her phone, once said ‘oh I wonder what my daughter is doing at the hospital, she didn’t tell me she was going’. As someone’s already said it’s like stalking, and nothing is private any more.

My nephew and I track one another but not with phones - cctv cameras.

A few years ago nephew had a stroke and lay on the floor for 3 days undiscovered until I got a taxi up to his flat concerned that he was not answering. He did make an 80% recovery but still has balance problems. People who have had one stroke have a higher risk of having another.

He now has one of my "old" cameras sited in his hall where it will show him going in and out of his flat and to collect his mail etc. If I did not see him pass it at least once a day I would worry. He camera does not show inside any of the rooms or infringe his privacy and of course he knows its there. I also have a camera sited about the door where I enter and exit the house so he can see me coming and going. The cameras cause each others phones to "ding". We have the security system set up on both our devices and can communicate via if is necessary as all the cameras have a microphone.

Calendargirl

Chatting to a friend, I was astounded when she said she and her DH had tracking on their phones for their sons.

The sons are one in mid 30’s, married with baby, and the other two are early 20’s, still living at home.

How long will this go on, I wonder? Will they still be ‘tracked’ when in their 40’s say?

Should say I think they are all well aware Mum and Dad can see what they are doing.

Also heard about another mum who ‘tracks’ her adult children.

Just seems very odd and OTT to me.

Wouldn't be accepted by our children, very OTT. Another reason to avoid unnecessary mobile phones that don't work out here.

My daughter’s husband used to track her on her phone. Where she was, when she spent any money. She’s divorcing him now.

Oldbat1

GC have tracking on their phones so parents can check whereabouts. It is weird weird weird to be checking on AC in their 40s though! Im my day we didnt even have a house phone.

Couldn’t agree more. My AC would be horrified and would consider it none of my business.
DGC are tracked and have been for a few years as their schools are a long walk from home and it reassures mum and dad. Also DGS is old enough now to meet up with friends at the local park😕
I would be very annoyed if I thought I was being tracked, I think it’s very weird. Maybe one day if I needed it should I get a bit forgetful and not be able to remember where I left the car.

Well, when our son was a teenager tracking didn't exist on mobile phones, at least not for the general public, though I remember there being concern that the police could track private citizens.

Back then we assumed that our teenagers could either ring us or the police if they felt unsafe when out, and thought no more about it, anymore than my parents did when they made sure that my sister and I had six pence in our purses for a phone call when we were old enough to be out in the evening.

Tracking a child by parents seems to me to state bluntly that the parents don't trust the child, and tracking an adult should, I feel, be considered an invasion of their privacy.

But then I am old-fashioned.

My DH and me can track each other. For no other reasons than checking we’ve reached destinations safely and to have meals ready. If ever there was a problem we’d know where the other one is. I find it odd for people to track grown up kids though!

I get the impression that people might think that tracking or location finding is a one way process. When you download and sign into the app you can see where they are and they can see where you are.
For some families it can be useful, indeed helpful.
If you are not one of those families then don't download it. If you want to do a bit of hidden Christmas shopping then turn it off.

GC have tracking on their phones so parents can check whereabouts. It is weird weird weird to be checking on AC in their 40s though! Im my day we didnt even have a house phone.

We also put AirTags in everyone’s suitcase when we go on holiday easy to find if they go astray

My daughters grandaughters and I use find my friends app. If I am driving long distance on my own my daughter likes to know where I am and when I’ve arrived safely and I use it to know when she’s on her way home from her commute ( we live together) helps get food ready on time etc. Yes both people have to give consent but none of us see it as a problem, more something that helps everyday life

Galaxy

I would just say no. The last thing I want is people knowing where I am. Couldnt think of anything worse. Fine as long as everyone agrees as long as no coercion. And I suppose as long as people dont act hurt when people say no.

When you say that you don't want people knowing where you are, I understand that.

I have nothing to hide, I don't visit venues or locations that are in any way 'shady' or dubious - I just want to feel free to spontaneously do something or go somewhere if I feel like it without another person thinking it's 'out of character', or to question why I took one route instead of another. It feels controlling. I don't want a family member or anyone else to speculate, 'well-she-went-there-yesterday-why-is-she-going-there-again-today'...

My late ex's mother was also controlling. She'd call me on occasions when I was out, and the next time we met up, she'd say, "I called you on Tuesday afternoon but you weren't there in an accusatory tone. Dread to even think what she would've said if she'd been able to track me!

I do though understand those who need to keep tabs on vulnerable youngsters or family members going on long trips, or into isolated locations. But that's completely different.

One of my GDs is 18 but only just finding her feet when it comes to travelling around London on her own to meet up with friends, a couple of times she’s phoned in a panic when making her way home and not sure of the tube or bus route she needs. I think it would be very good for pinpointing her location if she agrees and also from a safety aspect. On the whole if everyone is aware than I think it’s not a bad thing.

I think it's a good idea for teenagers who are starting to get some freedom, but not sure about tracking adult children. Fair enough if everyone is happy about it though, and I can see the point that some have made about tracking for the elderly and possibly confused being reassuring for the family.

DaisyAnneReturns, I know exactly where my surfboard is - it's lived in the shed for 25 years!

Marydoll

FannyCornforth

Thank you DaisyAnne. As I said, I don’t know anything about tracking, that’s why I asked.

I was thinking of putting on Air tag on my dog, but it’s not advised.

If anyone has any advice on that sort of thing, I’d appreciate it 😊

I have Tile tags on my phone, house keys, church keys and purse after I left my phone in a shop on holiday. Not cheap, but have saved my sanity on more than one occasion.

Tracking adult children, unless they have special needs makes me uncomfortable, feels a bit like stalking.
Mt husbands tracks me, at my suggestion, when I am out on my own, as I am physically vulnerable

I have just learned, looking up "Tile tags", that you can get smart stickers to go on you surf board! Who knew

Obviously if you are concerned that people are abusing it, you just turn it off.
My DH had a job that involved multiple trips around the world, before the days of mobile phones. It would have been a huge relief to know that he was safely at his destination and when we could expect him home.

It really is the software that "tracks".

If someone sits and ""tracks" you, they already have a problem and you have a problem with them - with or without an app

If all parties involved know about it and are in complete agreement about it, that's fine. It's when it starts to become more intrusive and controlling that it could easily become a problem. I wouldn't dream of 'tracking' my adult children, but I admit it could be useful for my husband when he walks the dog. He's often away for a good few hours, walking through woodland and countryside where he's unlikely to ever see another human, so sometimes I do worry what would happen if he had an accident or took ill in the middle of nowhere.

So creepy!

My sister tracks her husband and adult children, she often looks at her phone then says things like, Sally is in tesco, thats odd she went shopping yesterday or Steve is at KFC so I wont be cooking for him tonight.

I used to look after her cats when she was away but stopped after the time I was in the house and her voice came over Alexa saying hello, I had not realised the screen was connected to her phone and alerted her that I was there, or it could have been the doorbell. She has an Alexa in every room so can ‘drop in’ to that room and listen to conversations. I have nothing to hide but do not like this constant unnecessary surveillance.

The "Find my" app was brilliant when my sister was widowed and living on her own. It gave her piece of mind that I could see where she was, and she could see me too. When she got a new guy he was aghast that we could see where each other was and she quickly came off the app. Needless to say, when she's out and about without him he calls her mobile to check whereabouts she is!
I can also see where my GDs are which is great for when they're coming home from school. It also gives them peace of mind that they can see we're at home awaiting their arrival.

Omg this is so weird! I’ve got three sons and wouldn’t dream of this! We have cameras on our house and eldest son can see us in the garden or if our cars are on the drive but they were his old cameras so I don’t mind. Feels nice to be safe.