According to Statista, the three leading causes of death for teenagers aged 15 to 19 were unintentional injuries, assault (homicide) and intentional self-harm (suicide) in 2022.
As a response to this data and other factors, inventors have made technological advances in order to keep children safe as they navigate through the world.
One of the biggest advances in child safety is the creation of cellphone tracking apps, which allow users to know each other’s location, text history, call history and more depending on the service being utilized. This technology is primarily aimed at parents and families, with the goal of helping them stay connected and keep their children safe from any potential dangers.
These services have been very successful, with Life360, one of the most popular tracking apps, garnering approximately 76.9 million monthly users as of September 30 2024, according to data published by GlobeNewswire.
World geography teacher Mr. Lowrey uses a service called “Troomi” to monitor his son’s cellphone activity. Troomi works by sending a modified phone to the consumer, which is then given to the child. Finally, the parents download a dedicated app which then allows them to view everything on their child’s phone. Parents also have the ability to restrict some actions or content on the child’s phone through the app.
Lowrey feels very satisfied with this service, claiming that it’s created a great balance between protecting his son and granting him the freedom of having a phone.
thrilled to have a phone, and he doesn’t really seem to mind having the tracking and all that,” stated Lowrey.
Many people have questioned the morality of this technology however, claiming that while it can be useful and potentially life-saving in emergencies, it can also be intruding on kids’ privacy. Experts have said that it could have long lasting negative effects on children.
In an article by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Devotsh Heitner, author of “Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World,” stated, “While these apps could seem like an easy way for parents to keep an eye on their kids, it could cause children to rely only on their parents, and not develop their own instincts to navigate the world.”
Heitner also believes it could “cause children to develop hard feelings towards their parents–spurred from thinking their parents don’t trust them.”
Junior Ollie Perez uses the “Find My iPhone” app exclusive to Apple products to share her location with her mom. She claims that the app “makes me feel like I’m being watched 24/7, and I feel somewhat safe.”
However, she feels the constant surveillance can be irritating sometimes. “My mom is the one constantly checking on me when I’m not at school or home. It ends up being too much when I’m outside those two areas and she ends up being nosey.”
Junior Moeryah Surigao also shares this sentiment. She states she uses the “Find My iPhone” app with her mother and sisters to reassure them, and to ensure they know where she is.
“They have made me feel secure but pressured at the same time. Occasionally, I do feel watched but not to a strict extent.” she states. “Fortunately, I am privileged to say they don’t restrict me to the extent of mandating my every action.”
Ultimately, it comes down to balance. Lowrey believes he monitors his son to protect him until he is ready to be fully independent, but also understands why some kids and teenagers are against the idea.
“If it’s not presented to you all in a certain way, I can see how easily it can come off as disrespectful. That shouldn’t be the tone,” Lowrey claimed.