Do you use trackers with your college kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family shares our locations with each other on Google Maps because we don’t see it as a big deal. We’re a family.

Same. We have iPhones and share on Find My Friend. I rarely check unless needed. Even my Mom is on there with us.

[Anonymous]

No. I never want it to cross my children’s mind that mom may be watching or can go back and find something out. They may not be hiding something per se but are experiencing something they just want to keep private. What’s wrong with privacy??

[Anonymous]

High school I would excuse but college is just parents who can’t let go and see their child as independent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family shares our locations with each other on Google Maps because we don’t see it as a big deal. We’re a family.

Same here.

Same here.

I’m not constantly tracking my kids.

Sometimes it’s just to see how close they are to home and have dinner ready.

Then … contact them.

That's annoying for everyone; plus if they are driving, I don't want them to check a text or take a call. Do you all text each other constantly about stuff you could know just by checking find my phone? Why would you do that? Much less intrusive to FMP.

[Anonymous]

I think I’ve said this before on here but when the shooting happened at UVA, I was so thankful I had my DD on locations because I could see she was in her dorm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

For example, my kid drives 8 hours to and from college. Yes, it’s nice to keep an eye on his progress. He may be an adult, but he’s only been driving independently for three years and it’s not an easy drive (PA turnpike). When my kids were studying abroad— and especially in transit or traveling alone or with a friend on weekends/ break/ before and after the program— it was very nice to have. Especially because Find My Phone worked when texting was glitchy in areas without fantastic cell service.

My 31 year old has a long commute to work. Yes, it’’s nice to keep an eye on his progress each day. He may be an adult, but he’s only been out of his 20s for one year.

You don’t see a difference between a daily commute for someone in their 30s and an inexperienced driver making a multistate car trip 2-3 times a year? Your example would be more akin to a parent tracking their kid who lives off campus each day to make sure they get to class on time. One is daily tracking of routine stuff, which I agree should not be happening. The other is 1-2 times a semester in a higher risk situation. Where texting is absolutely not appropriate. I would keep an eye on a kid the first few times they did a long solo drive. And let them know I was doing so. Im not hiding anything. But, maybe I’m particularly sensitive to this situation because I was in the passengers seat when my 18 year old HS senior misjudged a highway off ramp in the rain, panicked, and went into a ditch— totaling the car and I ended up with a serious concussion. You have to let new drivers get the experience. But doing so may be the hardest thing I’ve had to do as a parent.

Plus, my 78 year old mother still asks me to text when I get home after vacations or trips to visit her. So, probably okay to keep an eye on a college freshman’s first long drives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I’ve said this before on here but when the shooting happened at UVA, I was so thankful I had my DD on locations because I could see she was in her dorm.

+1. My kid was at WM when there was a gun scare/lockdown that went out to everyone with the WM app. And she not was responding to texts (as it turns out, because she was studying in her dorm room with noise cancelling headphones on and missed the texts and the lockdown order). That may have been the only time that year I activated “Find My Phone”— but boy was I glad I could.

[Anonymous]

Weird

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I never want it to cross my children’s mind that mom may be watching or can go back and find something out. They may not be hiding something per se but are experiencing something they just want to keep private. What’s wrong with privacy??

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

For example, my kid drives 8 hours to and from college. Yes, it’s nice to keep an eye on his progress. He may be an adult, but he’s only been driving independently for three years and it’s not an easy drive (PA turnpike). When my kids were studying abroad— and especially in transit or traveling alone or with a friend on weekends/ break/ before and after the program— it was very nice to have. Especially because Find My Phone worked when texting was glitchy in areas without fantastic cell service.

My 31 year old has a long commute to work. Yes, it’’s nice to keep an eye on his progress each day. He may be an adult, but he’s only been out of his 20s for one year.

You don’t see a difference between a daily commute for someone in their 30s and an inexperienced driver making a multistate car trip 2-3 times a year? Your example would be more akin to a parent tracking their kid who lives off campus each day to make sure they get to class on time. One is daily tracking of routine stuff, which I agree should not be happening. The other is 1-2 times a semester in a higher risk situation. Where texting is absolutely not appropriate. I would keep an eye on a kid the first few times they did a long solo drive. And let them know I was doing so. Im not hiding anything. But, maybe I’m particularly sensitive to this situation because I was in the passengers seat when my 18 year old HS senior misjudged a highway off ramp in the rain, panicked, and went into a ditch— totaling the car and I ended up with a serious concussion. You have to let new drivers get the experience. But doing so may be the hardest thing I’ve had to do as a parent.

Plus, my 78 year old mother still asks me to text when I get home after vacations or trips to visit her. So, probably okay to keep an eye on a college freshman’s first long drives.

I think (and hope) that the person writing about tracking their 31 year old was being sarcastic.

Unbelievable that so many parents on here are treating their adult children like they are six year olds riding the school bus for the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family shares our locations with each other on Google Maps because we don’t see it as a big deal. We’re a family.

This. Our kids don't seem to mind but we've never used it as a power-play and they don't tend to sneak around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids in college and we do track each others locations. My kids are already very open with us so not sure what I’d find out that I don’t already know. I don’t look at it all the time but it’s helpful in certain situations. For instance, I won’t call them if I see they’re not in their apartment/dorm. Maybe it’s a little stalkerish but they don’t seem to care. It’s hard being an empty nester so sometimes it is a nice little connection to just see where they are.

I also find this very helpful...

[Anonymous]

My kid goes to school in LA and there are weekly police advisories of incidents. Par for the course for a major city and I usually don’t pay any attention to the small ones. When there’s an ongoing incident though, I check on find my to see where my kid is relative to the incidents. If they went to college in the middle of cowtown USA, I’d probably never use the feature. Context matters.

[Anonymous]

No. And until I'm elderly or ill, I will never have my kids to track me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is funny that some people respond that they don’t use trackers but use “find my phone”.

I also folks think that asking their 16 year old where they are going is controlling.

Everything in moderation folks.

I think it’s funny too. I had no idea people did not understand Find My Phone is tracking another person.

Probably most of these people saying they don’t track are tracking without thinking they are…

OP

There is a disconnect here. Probably OP trying to legitimate her behavior. Having find my phone isn't tracking if you are not using it. Many here said they had it, and might use it or have used it in emergency or unique situations. That is not the same as tracking someone. But, nice try, OP and friends (or just OP repeat posting).