Why I Chose Not to GPS Track My Teenager

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When my eldest son, Jake, first got behind the wheel, I did what any well-meaning, tech-savvy mom would do—I installed a GPS tracking app on his phone. After all, most family cell plans come with these tracking features, so why not take advantage of them? I thought I was being a responsible parent, ensuring his safety by being able to monitor his location at all times. Plus, with a plethora of teenage driving apps available, I felt like I had all the tools I needed. There were apps to alert me if he unlocked his phone while driving, track his speed, and even read aloud any texts I sent him. I could have even secretly placed a GPS device on his car.

Eagerly, I downloaded several of these apps onto both our phones, thinking that I could oversee my son’s adventures while he enjoyed his newfound freedom. I thought parenting a teenager would be a breeze with such oversight. But just two weeks later, I had a change of heart.

In theory, these high-tech tools sound fantastic; we all desire for our kids to be safe drivers, and as parents, we want the means to keep them protected. But soon, I realized that these apps began managing my life instead. I found myself spending endless hours watching a blinking icon on my screen as it moved across a map, constantly checking and rechecking whether Jake was where he claimed to be. In my attempt to keep him safe, I had inadvertently swapped trust for control, effectively placing an electronic ankle bracelet on my own child. He hadn’t done anything wrong; he was simply growing up in a time filled with technology.

After some soul-searching, I decided it was time to embrace my inner free-range parent and let go of the GPS tracking. It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make, especially when nearly every other parent I knew was still happily using their apps to track their kids. Yet, I opted for the old-fashioned approach—waiting for Jake to return home from practice without knowing his exact whereabouts. I chose to put my faith in a 17-year-old whose brain still had some growing to do. But for me, it felt like the right move. It was my way of beginning to let him spread his wings and trust him, not a tracking device.

Jake has now started college, four hours away, and while the urge to reactivate the GPS was strong, I resisted. I’m among the few college moms who don’t track their children’s every move, instead allowing them the space to navigate life independently. This constant connection we have today can make their transition to adulthood challenging. While some parents find comfort in the ability to always be connected, I had to cut the cord. I couldn’t see myself spending the next four years monitoring a dot moving from one party to another, nor could I allow myself to be a hostage to his spotty cellular service or a dead phone battery, which would only lead to unnecessary panic.

Every parent who has dropped their child off at college or watched them take their first steps into adulthood understands this deep, magnetic urge to stay connected. But there’s an equally important need to let them grow, learn, and face challenges independently—without their parents hovering over them. Yes, I will always be there for my kids, offering unconditional support, but I’ve decided to do so from the background, rather than the front row, tracking their every move.

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In summary, I learned that while technology can provide a sense of security, true parenting involves trust and allowing our children the space to grow. It’s a fine balance between protecting them and letting them learn to navigate the world on their own.