Why are more and more parents geolocating their children?

The murder of Lola, a 12-year-old girl, savagely killed by a stranger, has rekindled a dull anguish that all parents know. How can we ensure the safety of our children and protect them from bad encounters?

In this context, it is tempting to put current technology at the service of greater vigilance. A survey published in Le Figaro also reveals that more and more parents are opting for connected devices that allow them to geolocate their offspring live. These solutions, very practical at first glance, challenge the experts.

Geolocation to follow your growing baby from afar

It is not always easy to deal with a growing child’s desire for independence. Connected objects, smartphones, watches, tablets and other GPS devices, therefore seem to be the ideal solution to allow children to move freely and parents to always know where they are.

In 2019, 40% of Brits used a geolocation system on a daily basis. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of users of Vita360one of the world market leaders, it has increased by 30% and every year half of the connected watches sold are destined for children.

Geolocation, incompatible with adolescence

These solutions are particularly interesting for schoolchildren and middle school students who are learning to move around on their own in public spaces, but things get complicated as the child grows up.

These devices can be very intrusive at an age where you have to make your own experiences and break some rules, away from the benevolent but curious gaze of your parents. Teenagers can also see in these solutions a lack of family trust that risks weakening already strained bonds. Not to mention that technology is not foolproof, and that a forgotten phone or a bug can cause sacred moments of panic.

Geolocation should not be imposed at the expense of the child’s freedom and trust. This provision must be the subject of a mutual prior agreement, the conditions of which vary according to the age of the child and the circumstances. Forcing a geolocation wouldn’t be of much interest though, teens are always very creative when it comes to escaping parental supervision.

Photo credit image of one: Cottonbro