How to get around teen freezing Life 360

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have to say that this "people parented without tracking for generations" argument is incredibly weak. There may be other reasons not to track, but this ain't it.

People also raised children for generations without:
1. seatbelts
2. baby monitors
3. helmets
4. online access to grades
5. cell phones with GPS/find my friend
6. and more
7. ring or other security cameras

My entire family shares location through an app. We don't do it because we don't trust each other. We do it because it is convenient to occasionally check to see when people may arrive and to be able to locate them in the event of an emergency. It is a convenience and a safety precaution that we all share with each other.

i

Frankly, I think most of those are unnecessary. The only ones I think are a positive development are seatbelts and helmets. The rest are just panaceas for anxious, controlling, overprotective parents. They don’t actually make kids safer.

I think you are missing the convenience factor.
I mentioned that my whole family shares location. Many of these kids also share location with a group of friends using L360 or even Snapchat.

It is convenient and has the potential to help in a case of emergency.

Two examples:
- My elderly parents got separated while driving back from the beach. My mom does not know how to use a GPS. I was able to locate her using L360 and lead my dad to her.
- My son was walking home from school as he usually does. It was cold and I had a break in my day, so I drove directly to him as a bit of a surprise. He was pleasantly surprised and happy.

Nothing anxious, overprotective, or controlling going on.

I keep thinking of different ways L360 has been useful....

I've used it to know exactly where my child is waiting when picking them up from places like the mall, the county fair, and football games. I used it when my DH was driving home from out of state to judge approximately how long it would be, and also to know that I could call him in time to ask him to stop somewhere before he had already passed it.

It is just a helpful convenience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have to say that this "people parented without tracking for generations" argument is incredibly weak. There may be other reasons not to track, but this ain't it.

People also raised children for generations without:
1. seatbelts
2. baby monitors
3. helmets
4. online access to grades
5. cell phones with GPS/find my friend
6. and more
7. ring or other security cameras

My entire family shares location through an app. We don't do it because we don't trust each other. We do it because it is convenient to occasionally check to see when people may arrive and to be able to locate them in the event of an emergency. It is a convenience and a safety precaution that we all share with each other.

i

Frankly, I think most of those are unnecessary. The only ones I think are a positive development are seatbelts and helmets. The rest are just panaceas for anxious, controlling, overprotective parents. They don’t actually make kids safer.

I think you are missing the convenience factor.
I mentioned that my whole family shares location. Many of these kids also share location with a group of friends using L360 or even Snapchat.

It is convenient and has the potential to help in a case of emergency.

Two examples:
- My elderly parents got separated while driving back from the beach. My mom does not know how to use a GPS. I was able to locate her using L360 and lead my dad to her.
- My son was walking home from school as he usually does. It was cold and I had a break in my day, so I drove directly to him as a bit of a surprise. He was pleasantly surprised and happy.

Nothing anxious, overprotective, or controlling going on.

That’s great, hon, but this thread is about anxious, controlling, and overprotective parents digitally stalking their children. Look at the title. Does it say anything about tech-challenged elderly people? No.

[Anonymous]

Just my opinion, but at some point you have to let go. Neither of my kids, 15 and 18 have Life 360 on their phones. This isn’t to say I don’t worry about them, but I’m not really into watching their every move. You can have a safety net for every “what if,” but what does that really accomplish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have to say that this "people parented without tracking for generations" argument is incredibly weak. There may be other reasons not to track, but this ain't it.

People also raised children for generations without:
1. seatbelts
2. baby monitors
3. helmets
4. online access to grades
5. cell phones with GPS/find my friend
6. and more
7. ring or other security cameras

My entire family shares location through an app. We don't do it because we don't trust each other. We do it because it is convenient to occasionally check to see when people may arrive and to be able to locate them in the event of an emergency. It is a convenience and a safety precaution that we all share with each other.

i

Frankly, I think most of those are unnecessary. The only ones I think are a positive development are seatbelts and helmets. The rest are just panaceas for anxious, controlling, overprotective parents. They don’t actually make kids safer.

I actually think a lot of this stuff makes less safe. Mental health is based on increasing agency and independence. When we deny teenagers this, they become mentally unwell and can’t flourish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have to say that this "people parented without tracking for generations" argument is incredibly weak. There may be other reasons not to track, but this ain't it.

People also raised children for generations without:
1. seatbelts
2. baby monitors
3. helmets
4. online access to grades
5. cell phones with GPS/find my friend
6. and more
7. ring or other security cameras

My entire family shares location through an app. We don't do it because we don't trust each other. We do it because it is convenient to occasionally check to see when people may arrive and to be able to locate them in the event of an emergency. It is a convenience and a safety precaution that we all share with each other.

i

Frankly, I think most of those are unnecessary. The only ones I think are a positive development are seatbelts and helmets. The rest are just panaceas for anxious, controlling, overprotective parents. They don’t actually make kids safer.

I think you are missing the convenience factor.
I mentioned that my whole family shares location. Many of these kids also share location with a group of friends using L360 or even Snapchat.

It is convenient and has the potential to help in a case of emergency.

Two examples:
- My elderly parents got separated while driving back from the beach. My mom does not know how to use a GPS. I was able to locate her using L360 and lead my dad to her.
- My son was walking home from school as he usually does. It was cold and I had a break in my day, so I drove directly to him as a bit of a surprise. He was pleasantly surprised and happy.

Nothing anxious, overprotective, or controlling going on.

That’s great, hon, but this thread is about anxious, controlling, and overprotective parents digitally stalking their children. Look at the title. Does it say anything about tech-challenged elderly people? No.

It also doesn't say anything about "anxious, controlling, and overprotective parents digitally stalking their children," It is an OP who wants to make sure that the app is operative on a phone. And there could be many many reasons for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old?

13 or 19?

How controlling are you?

How often are you looking at 360?

All of this. If you’re using Life 360 to make their life a living hell then you have no right to expect that they’ll respect your use of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have to say that this "people parented without tracking for generations" argument is incredibly weak. There may be other reasons not to track, but this ain't it.

People also raised children for generations without:
1. seatbelts
2. baby monitors
3. helmets
4. online access to grades
5. cell phones with GPS/find my friend
6. and more
7. ring or other security cameras

My entire family shares location through an app. We don't do it because we don't trust each other. We do it because it is convenient to occasionally check to see when people may arrive and to be able to locate them in the event of an emergency. It is a convenience and a safety precaution that we all share with each other.

i

Frankly, I think most of those are unnecessary. The only ones I think are a positive development are seatbelts and helmets. The rest are just panaceas for anxious, controlling, overprotective parents. They don’t actually make kids safer.

I actually think a lot of this stuff makes less safe. Mental health is based on increasing agency and independence. When we deny teenagers this, they become mentally unwell and can’t flourish.

That;s not what mental health is based off of. Its convince. My kid can see where I am if I'm running late and I can see where they are if they need picked up or something else. Why are you so scared of technology?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have to say that this "people parented without tracking for generations" argument is incredibly weak. There may be other reasons not to track, but this ain't it.

People also raised children for generations without:
1. seatbelts
2. baby monitors
3. helmets
4. online access to grades
5. cell phones with GPS/find my friend
6. and more
7. ring or other security cameras

My entire family shares location through an app. We don't do it because we don't trust each other. We do it because it is convenient to occasionally check to see when people may arrive and to be able to locate them in the event of an emergency. It is a convenience and a safety precaution that we all share with each other.

i

Frankly, I think most of those are unnecessary. The only ones I think are a positive development are seatbelts and helmets. The rest are just panaceas for anxious, controlling, overprotective parents. They don’t actually make kids safer.

I actually think a lot of this stuff makes less safe. Mental health is based on increasing agency and independence. When we deny teenagers this, they become mentally unwell and can’t flourish.

I agree completely with your last two sentences. This is why I impose almost no restrictions on my teenagers- no curfews or bedtimes or whatever else.
I also can see where they are through L360, and they can see me. It does not deny them agency or independence. Also, they are flourishing and mentally doing very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about telling your kid that if they do that again, they lose their phone for a week.

And are grounded. It’s worked so far for my kids. One tried it once and lost her phone for a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have to say that this "people parented without tracking for generations" argument is incredibly weak. There may be other reasons not to track, but this ain't it.

People also raised children for generations without:
1. seatbelts
2. baby monitors
3. helmets
4. online access to grades
5. cell phones with GPS/find my friend
6. and more
7. ring or other security cameras

My entire family shares location through an app. We don't do it because we don't trust each other. We do it because it is convenient to occasionally check to see when people may arrive and to be able to locate them in the event of an emergency. It is a convenience and a safety precaution that we all share with each other.

i

Frankly, I think most of those are unnecessary. The only ones I think are a positive development are seatbelts and helmets. The rest are just panaceas for anxious, controlling, overprotective parents. They don’t actually make kids safer.

I think you are missing the convenience factor.
I mentioned that my whole family shares location. Many of these kids also share location with a group of friends using L360 or even Snapchat.

It is convenient and has the potential to help in a case of emergency.

Two examples:
- My elderly parents got separated while driving back from the beach. My mom does not know how to use a GPS. I was able to locate her using L360 and lead my dad to her.
- My son was walking home from school as he usually does. It was cold and I had a break in my day, so I drove directly to him as a bit of a surprise. He was pleasantly surprised and happy.

Nothing anxious, overprotective, or controlling going on.

Neither of the situations needed a tracking app. I’m not sure you’re aware of this but apps are put on phones and phones make phone calls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have to say that this "people parented without tracking for generations" argument is incredibly weak. There may be other reasons not to track, but this ain't it.

People also raised children for generations without:
1. seatbelts
2. baby monitors
3. helmets
4. online access to grades
5. cell phones with GPS/find my friend
6. and more
7. ring or other security cameras

My entire family shares location through an app. We don't do it because we don't trust each other. We do it because it is convenient to occasionally check to see when people may arrive and to be able to locate them in the event of an emergency. It is a convenience and a safety precaution that we all share with each other.

i

Frankly, I think most of those are unnecessary. The only ones I think are a positive development are seatbelts and helmets. The rest are just panaceas for anxious, controlling, overprotective parents. They don’t actually make kids safer.

I think you are missing the convenience factor.
I mentioned that my whole family shares location. Many of these kids also share location with a group of friends using L360 or even Snapchat.

It is convenient and has the potential to help in a case of emergency.

Two examples:
- My elderly parents got separated while driving back from the beach. My mom does not know how to use a GPS. I was able to locate her using L360 and lead my dad to her.
- My son was walking home from school as he usually does. It was cold and I had a break in my day, so I drove directly to him as a bit of a surprise. He was pleasantly surprised and happy.

Nothing anxious, overprotective, or controlling going on.

Neither of the situations needed a tracking app. I’m not sure you’re aware of this but apps are put on phones and phones make phone calls.

You are correct, neither of these situations, and in fact no situation NEEDS a tracking app.

But my mom was not particularly good at describing exactly where she was, and even if she could, my father could not readily get to her without the app telling him exactly where to go.
And I absolutely could have called my son to see if he wanted a ride and to tell me where he was. But that would not have had the same "fun surprise" factor.

Are we judging things noe based on whether they are absolutely necessary to achieve a desired outcome? Because I'm sure that there are many many things in daily life that would qualify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about telling your kid that if they do that again, they lose their phone for a week.

And are grounded. It’s worked so far for my kids. One tried it once and lost her phone for a week.

This cracks me up. Teens find hacks and work arounds if they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lynn Lyons is a psychologist who works with anxious families. She has a podcast (Clusterflux) and books. I went to a webinar with her once. She's very against apps like Life 360. They are mechanisms for communicating anxiety to your child, because you are anxious about them. It's just not worth it.

The idea that the world is dangerous is so pervasive. I have a six year old who likes the show Robicar Poli. Literally all they talk about on the show is how dangerous everything is. I've started discouraging her from watching it.

I also have a teen who doesn't yet have a phone. No interest in tracking him.

If you teen is violating the rules and can drive, by all means, take their keys. Take the phone that you pay for if behavior gets poor. But stop stalking them.

No. Lyons is entitled to her opinion but that’s all it is. Her opinion.

Seriously. I never even heard of her.

[Anonymous]

Life 360 is invaluable in today’s world where kids go missing. Think about the kid who died near a creek several years ago who was intoxicated or the girl at UVA that was being followed and was killed. It is a safety issue and even adults could benefit from having a trusted individual know their whereabouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 15yr old snuck out last year and got into a car accident with their 16yr old friends It was a scary time. I agree with tracking

Sure these are conveniences, but we do sacrifice something for this peace of mind. Being “watched” and “followed” had some psychological effects.