October 23rd 2023.
Colin Watkins, 45 from Streatham, South London, knows exactly where his three children are at all times. When they are not in his sight, he insists they use a tracking app for their safety. Before he made the decision to use the app, Colin was reluctant to buy his eldest daughter, Evelyn, a phone in Year 6.
It wasn't until Colin received an emergency alert from her phone on one school morning, that he began to consider tracking his kids. He panicked, imagining the worst, and decided he did not want to experience something like that again. After discussing it with his long-term girlfriend Jen, they decided to try Life 360, an app that allowed them to track their kids on a map and alert them if something had happened.
The use of tracking apps has sparked debate in the news about whether they are necessary for safety or if they hinder a child’s ability to make safe choices in the long term. Colin does not care what other parents think, saying, “I’d rather have it and for them to be safe than not have it and them end up in trouble.”
The app proved to be more useful than Colin had initially anticipated. When his daughter was stuck with a broken bike chain off of a main street that she did not know, he was able to locate her quickly. He also appreciates the app when his children say they are on their way home and he can see how far away they are.
Colin is aware that his daughters may rebel and turn the app off at some point, but he hopes they will see the value of it and make safe choices. He has also been teaching them about the potential risks of tech, telling them to ignore any random requests and not give an excuse or explanation.
Though the app runs permanently in the background, Colin says he’s not monitoring it 24/7. He is just using it as a failsafe to ensure his children are safe.
At the end of the day, Colin knows that the world is a lot different from when he was younger and technology has changed things. He believes tracking apps offer a layer of protection that didn’t exist in his day and is the best solution for his family.
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