Last Updated on January 24, 2025
With the constant growth of utilizing location sharing and apps that feature this, parents of adult children are having a hard time finding a balance that works best for their unit. Every family has their own values. And when your adult children are finding their own way, location sharing can become bothersome. Parents want to use location sharing features and a location sharing app to help their adult children be safe. But in many cases, adult children feel as if they’re being smothered by location sharing apps. What do you do to cut the tension? Let’s talk how you can best utilize location sharing apps for your adult children.
Real Life Example – Reddit
Reddit gives us a perfect example of the tension between location sharing and adult children. In r/college, a college student asks for input about their problem. They are discussing how they feel about location sharing and everyday calls from their parents. This person is an only child, and their parents have them location sharing 24/7 and calling to check in daily. Then they go home for breaks and holidays. They want to know if this is okay or normal to the Redditers in r/college. Most of the comments agree that this is reasonable, and that parents lessen the hold on needing location sharing app over time as college goes on. But so many other commenters say this is stifling and too much. So let’s look at it another way.
Kids’ Perspective
College is a lot! And becoming an adult child to your parents is a huge shift for everyone involved. When they can’t see where you are, they start to worry. This is why location sharing apps are so invaluable. Adult children need their space, and location sharing allows that with stipulations. It can feel a little suffocating, so some families adjust the timing of location sharing. For example, if your adult children feel suffocated with a 24/7 location sharing app, try discussing location sharing in certain intervals throughout a day. This can help you still feel connected and them feel more free. Becoming an adult, your children just want to know they can make their own path. So, a location sharing app can be a compromised safety option that helps them do that.
How to Best Use Location Sharing Apps for Adult Children
Okay, now you know some of the concerns and perspective from your adult children. Where do you start? Try sitting down with your adult child to make a plan of attack for the location sharing. Bring up your concerns and why you want to use a location sharing app, even download it ahead of time and show them the features while you discuss. Let them talk about what they feel works for their life. And find some middle ground! Maybe you only will be location sharing at certain points in every day or week. Maybe your kid will send you their location in an app when somewhere new. Or maybe you can use location sharing apps 24/7 as long as there are boundaries in place, as a safety net for your adult children. You’d be surprised what just talking and planning together can achieve.
What Location Sharing App Should I Use for Adult Children?
Location sharing apps are aplenty in today’s marketplace. They range from free to expensive and are event built in location sharing features in certain everyday apps like iMessaging or Facebook Messenger. When you want to utilize something for your adult children, you want only the best. Be sure to fully read over and explore the features in your location sharing app first. Apps like iSharing are perfect because they have a large range of functionality. You can location share 24/7 or only with a push of a button. If your concern is safety, make sure the app has a panic or SOS button feature. iSharing even has location history, which can be a way to gently and respectfully monitor or discuss your adult children and their locations to ensure they’re always safe.
Overall, parents want their adult children to be safe. And apps have come a long way in technological advancements to help that. But, you have to be sure you’re doing location sharing with your adult children in a way that is respectful and kind as well as keeping their best interests in mind. Give your children space to grow, and allow them to have you as that safety net when needed. It can become an incredibly helpful bonding experience between parent and child. You just have to be willing to go into location sharing open-minded and ready for striking some compromise.
