(USA) Keeping Tabs On Teens
From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
This article looks at a few applications to track children (and cars) using GPS-enabled mobile phones. As the reporter points out, these types of applications always hit up against the “Big Brother” issue - people simply don’t like the idea that they’re being tracked everywhere they go.
Child experts and parents agree that while such devices may temporarily solve reckless driving and help keep children safe, they do not address the underlying parent-child trust issue. Parents must stay involved in their children’s lives and maintain an open channel of communication to keep children safe, said Dr. Joanne Kaufman, professor of sociology at the University of Miami.
“Such devices facilitate, but don’t replace, actual parenting,” Kaufman said. “If the parent is always intervening, the kid is never going to learn how to be independent.”
What do you think? Under what circumstances do you think it’s OK to track your teenager’s location? Would your kids agree with you?