Young Aussies are tracking their parents for ‘peace of mind’. It may be putting them at risk
Updated . First published at
It used to be that parents relied on location tracking apps to keep an eye on their kids; now, adult children are tracking their ageing parents for peace of mind.
But experts warn Australians may be giving up their privacy and personal data in the process.
Turner's family use location tracking apps to keep an eye on her, just in case. Jane Turner
Jane Turner’s 25-year-old daughter has been monitoring her location since Turner, 64, was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease last year.
It has affected her sense of direction and orientation, leaving her “quite lost” even in familiar locations.
“It came to light one particular night where I’d gone to a networking event, I got a cab home and got out [...] probably 100 steps away from my apartment door,” she told nine.com.au.
“But I was completely disorientated, and I walked for about 10 minutes in the complete opposite direction. I wasn’t able to find home.”
Since that incident, Turner’s husband and daughter have used Apple’s ‘Find My’ app to track her.
Turner feels safer knowing they can always find her, but doesn’t want to share her location with anyone else.
“You don’t want it open to the whole world,” she said.
Sydneysider Sarah also uses location tracking to stay connected with her mum, who lives in a rural area of the UK.
“I feel more involved in her life, and she says the same back to me,” Sarah, 38, told nine.com.au.
Sarah (left) lives in Sydney and her mother lives in the UK, so they use location tracking to check in when time zones don't line up. Sarah
“It allows you to check in without checking in verbally, and it provides peace of mind, especially living halfway around the world.”
She said location tracking has strengthened their relationship, and they communicate more because of it.
More than 60 per cent of nine.com.au readers agree it’s OK to use location services to track friends and family provided they’ve given consent, according to an exclusive survey.
Many said they see the value in tracking older people for their own safety if they have health concerns.
Mark Andrejevic, professor at Monash University’s School of Media, Film, and Journalism, can see how location tracking can provide peace of mind, both for those being monitored and those doing the monitoring.
Experts warn Aussies may be giving up their privacy and data by using apps to track loved ones. iStock
But it shouldn’t be used as a substitute for more comprehensive forms of care for health concerns like dementia or Alzheimer’s.
“It can also raise concerns about consent and privacy,” he told nine.com.au.
An ageing parent with cognitive impairment may not be able to give informed consent to being tracked, and being monitored all the time may lead to a diminished sense of personal autonomy and privacy.
Robert Sparrow, a professor of philosophy at Monash University, said tracking may also be generating more anxiety than it resolves.
“I think it’s quite dystopian, like, why do you need to know where someone is all the time?” he told nine.com.au.
“People should trust each other and recognise that if they need you, they will reach out.”
He and Andrejevic agreed one of the biggest risks of location tracking is privacy.
Location tracking can be used by individuals as a tool for manipulation, intimidation, stalking, coercive control and domestic and family violence.
Third-party platforms may also be able to access and use individuals’ location tracking data, which may then be shared or used for targeted advertising.
“You’re never the only one who is doing the tracking,” Sparrow said.
Despite these concerns, many Aussies say location tracking makes them feel safer.
Melbourne vet Anupam Sharma and her female friends have adopted location tracking as an alternative to the “home safe” text.
They share their locations with one another when using ride-share, going out on a date, or partying.
“I share my location at all times with three to four friends. It helps us feel safe,” Sharma told nine.com.au.
She views location tracking as a powerful safety tool for women, especially those who travel or live on their own.
Many parents also still rely on the technology to monitor their children’s whereabouts, even after they turn 18.
More than half of parents in the US track their adult children using digital technology, according to a poll from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, most for peace of mind or in case of emergencies.
Some Aussies, regardless of age, are so accustomed to tracking one another that it has become a normal part of their daily routine.
“It is quite extraordinary how willing people have been to give up their privacy,” Sparrow said.
But Turner feels differently: “I really do think we’re onto something about older people and how useful it could be for feeling safe and more secure.”
She encourages older Aussies to use technology in ways that make them feel safe and secure, and urges anyone with concerns about health issues like Alzheimer’s to get checked.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).