Parents increasingly track adult children with apps, raising questions about privacy and trust

A growing number of parents are using smartphone apps to keep tabs on their adult children, a practice some families say enhances safety but others view as a potential invasion of privacy.

A recent University of Michigan survey found that more than half of parents of 18- to 25-year-olds track their adult children using phone apps. While many parents see the tools as a way to stay connected and ensure safety, others worry the practice could undermine trust.

For Lady Lallaine Reed and her husband, David, tracking is about peace of mind. The couple, who teach self-defense, use an app to monitor their 18- and 20-year-old daughters' locations.

"I think it's not about tracking each other. It's just a matter of security," Reed said.

Their approach reflects a broader trend among parents who say the technology helps them feel reassured about their children's whereabouts. In some cases, the tracking can also benefit the young adults themselves.

Nellie Santin said the app helps compensate for lapses in communication between her and her mother.

"I'm always forgetting to text her where I'm at, and it gives her peace of mind," she said.

But the technology can also expose moments of rebellion. Samantha Santin recalled an incident when she was 17 and tried to skip school.

"I hopped a fence, and I tried to go to downtown L.A. with a friend. It only was, like, 15 minutes before Life360 gave my parents a notification that I was no longer at school," Samantha Santin said.

The alert prompted her parents to reach out and express their concerns. Ultimately, she reconsidered her plans.

"I just went back to class. And I didn't go to downtown Los Angeles, which would have probably been dangerous and a bad idea," Samantha said.

Experts say the issue is not just about whether parents should track their children, but how families navigate the balance between safety and independence.

"It's not just about tracking and monitoring whether or not to do it. I think it touches on how to figure out, how to balance safety and trust," said Dr. Jena Lee, a psychiatrist at UCLA.

Lee said that while technology continues to evolve, the fundamentals of parenting remain unchanged.

"The most important thing that we can do to ensure the safety of our kids is to provide a safe environment for them to come to us and tell us anything and everything," she said.

Lee advises parents to avoid being overly critical or controlling, warning that young adults may respond by disabling location services or leaving their phones behind.

Tracking apps can also create a two-way dynamic, allowing children to monitor their parents as well. Santin said the shared access can be practical.

"Being able to know where they are helps me be like, 'Hey, can you pick me up?'" she said.

While the convenience of quickly checking a location can reduce the need for constant communication, families must decide how to use the technology in a way that fosters trust rather than tension.

For some, that means viewing phone tracking not as surveillance, but as a shared tool -- one they hope will strengthen relationships rather than strain them.