Picture of Jr. Addy O’Connell’s family circle on Life360.

Boom! A lady just t-boned my car! I was spinning out of control and the airbags went off. I had just stopped at a four-way stop and this lady came out of nowhere. What am I going to do? I need to call my parents. Jr. Leah Telgenhof thought as she tried to slow her racing heart. Thankfully Telgenhof didn’t have to find her phone because Life360 has already contacted her parents. The safety features can be helpful but in some cases, Life360 allows parents to be involved in their children’s lives which can negatively impact their well-being. Although, Life360 has incredible tracking features with that comes controversy. 

Life360 should be used by parents.

   Life360 gives parents peace of mind. Parents know where their kids are at all times with the use of the app. Parents don’t have to worry if their teen is engaging in illegal activities, especially if their child is known to break the rules. “Parents are more likely to relax and not jump to conclusions when they know their kids are safe,” Holland High School Counselor Suzanne Hemmeke said. Parents can also contact their teens right on the app effectively calming their worries when they know their child is only one click away. 

   “I am in a group with my mom and my sister and Life360 is nice because I can see people’s phone batteries and tell them if they are low so that we can remain in contact with each other,” Sr. McKenna Murray said, “There is also a panic button on the app that I can press and it will send my location to everyone. It makes me feel a lot safer and it reassures my mom too.”  

   A big reason that parents download Life360 is to keep an eye on their teen drivers. Life360 allows parents to know if their teen is driving, how fast they are going, and if they get into a crash. Driving is a big milestone for teens and their parents. With the help of Life360, parents can ease their anxieties about their new drivers on the road. Teenagers are becoming more independent and parents are nervous about what their teens can do with access to a car.

   The app gives parents detailed reports about teens using their phones while driving. The app’s crash detection can sense collisions over 25 mph. It then automatically reaches out to the driver or the passenger, and the app can alert emergency services. 

   “When I got into a crash, it alerted my parents so they were able to arrive at the scene fast and had the cops coming. It was convenient because they knew right where I was and they were there for me the whole time,” Telgenhof said. 

   Tracking apps like Life360 can help families grow their relationships with one another. Having the app lets the teens know that they always have someone they can contact if the need arises. “When it is used well, it can help build trust in the relationship,” Hemmeke said. Communication is a key piece of any relationship. Having Life360 to make sure their teenager is being truthful can fabricate a healthier relationship between parents and their kids. 

   “My parents use it to see what friend’s house I am at or I use it to see how close they are so they can pick up,” Soph. Kallyn Gaul said. 

   Parents should strive to be able to trust their kids when they go out. Life360 can help parents achieve this level of trust. “Admittedly, that’s not always easy when kids want more freedom and independence, and parents want to know their kids are safe and also following family rules and values,” Hemmeke said. 

   Privileges for teenagers are up for the parents to decide. Life360 can be used as a tool for parents to check that their teen is worthy of certain privileges. “Similar to giving a child your cell phone and asking for the password. You can have a car but I have to know where you are at all times,” Holland High School Counselor Tesha Post said. 

   Another bonus of Life360 is that it works internationally. Parents can monitor their kids when they are traveling or on a family vacation. Teens can see their parents on the app if they travel a lot for work and feel reassured that they are safe. Traveling can increase safety risks for everyone. Life360 offers crime reports and medical tips for users. Parents and teens can apply this information to take measures for travel safety.  

   Life360 is becoming increasingly helpful for law enforcement. A proper legal process is required for law enforcement to use Life360 data. “If they are used well, they can be helpful in an emergency or danger and to aid in open communication,” Hemmeke said. Stolen items can be located if a user’s phone has the app. There have been many circumstances where Life360 has even helped locate criminals.

   Life 360 aids parents in keeping their teens safe on the road and in everyday life. They can use Life360 as a helpful tool to make decisions about trust with their teens and privilege. 

Life360 should not be used by parents

   Life360 is an invasion of privacy. The app updates with any movement meaning that family members are being constantly monitored. With the ability to watch their child’s every move, parents are crossing the line. Not only does Life360 invade location privacy, but also stores data. Storing personal data is dangerous as it can fall into the wrong hands. If misused, Life360 can pose safety risks.

   Anxiety for teens can already be intense, but this puts an extra weight on their shoulders. Teenagers feel they lack a sense of freedom. Parents are overstepping their boundaries which diminishes a healthy relationship.

   “Life360 creates a layer of distrust and animosity,” social worker Brian Highstreet said. The app takes away the chance to gain trust with parents through open conversations about location. Teenagers are sneaky, and going against their parents’ words is appealing to young teens. 

   “Life360 does not stop teens from doing things they’re curious about. It’s just an opportunity to be more sneaky,” Highstreet said. Eventually, teens will find a way to hide or pause their location or even leave their phones as a fake. “Life360 is really easy to manipulate, you can just pause your data and it won’t update. There hasn’t been a certain circumstance where I’ve needed to fake my location but there have been times where I’ve paused my location for a short period of time and it was very simple,” Jr. Isabelle Jones said.     

   There have been many circumstances where the app has malfunctioned, resulting in unreliable data. Instead of talking through possible issues, parents can jump to conclusions with a click of a button. “One time, while I was at work my connection was really bad and my location showed me at my house. My parents thought I was trying to avoid work but that just wasn’t true. They wouldn’t believe me and I ended up getting my phone and car taken away for something that wasn’t my fault,” Jr. Leah Dassen said. There are other circumstances of Life360 malfunctioning. “One time when I was driving home from school the app said I went 112 mph but I was following the speed limit. My parents got mad at me because of this,” Jr. Kendrick Servis said. 

   Parents claim that Life360 is used strictly for safety reasons while driving. Although this is a common use, the crash prevention feature isn’t 100% reliable. Unless parents are watching Life360 all of the time, there isn’t a way for them to notice a crash. For some reason, if parents see their child stopped on the road, it is unlikely the first thing they assume is a crash. There is an abundance of other situations likely to be the cause of the stopped location. Whether that’s app delay or traffic.

   Parents are not able to prevent accidents. When noticing dangerous driving habits through Life360, there is no way parents could get ahold of their child through the app without the driver using their phone. Parents who strive to punish their child because of Life360, can’t find immediate success. 

   Truthfully, tracking has gotten out of control. Even a couple of years ago, this was not even in thought. How will tracking apps shape the future? As technology is on the up, more intricate settings are likely to take place. While constantly being under surveillance, the ability to make independent decisions and develop responsibility will be affected. 

   Life360 allows parents to keep tabs on their teenagers’ lives. As the quality of Life360 becomes more sophisticated people are voicing their opposing opinions. Social workers have mixed feelings about the apps and their effect on family relationships. To use Life360 efficiently, communication is key!