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Do any of the parents here use a GPS tracker on their child's cell phone?

If so, what one do you use?

Thanks.

hi mama72,

I just wanted to say that I haven't had the opportunity/reason to do that as my uBPD step-daughter is an adult, and I am not especially technically savvy, either.

However, if I had a teenager and had a hard time keeping him/her safe, I might do some research to be able to discretely track my child... .

Let's see if there are any parents with experience in this... .

I use the "Find my iPhone" app on my iPhone... . I pay for my phone and my daughters' and the rule is that she must have this app enabled... . it helps because it a) pinpoints where the phone is b) shows what % battery that phone is on (so if they are not responding to you maybe it's because the phone is out of battery) and c) IF the phone gets stolen/lost you can find it.

That said, I know of a mom whose daughter deliberately put the phone in an "okay/approved" place (friend's house) while doing "unapproved" things... .

Also, the one time my daughter went off in an enormous rage to confront her ex-boyfriend, she disable the "Find my ipHone" app before the she left the house... that's one catch... . THEY can disable it anytime they want.

We have used both the windows phone find my phone feature (requires I have her email/live ID password) and the AT&T family map, a paid service. They work well, although we just figured out that turning off the phone's data means it can't be found, which makes it less useful than it could be.

I wish this technology was around when my dd was a teen.  We were in "pager" mode back then.  My dd paid for her own cell phone when they became affordable.  I believe she was 17, and I let her get cell provided she paid the bill.  If she reached the point where she could no  longer pay the bill, the phone would be mine. I did end up with the phone, as she was no longer able to afford it. 

I would get a GPS tracker, if I had a minor with a phone.   And, have consequences if the feature was coming up as disabled.  That is so easy for me to say, since I am not in that place, now.  My dd would figure the ways around it.  Putting the phone in okay zone while being elsewhere sounds like something that my dd would come up with.   My dd was so clever at being sneaky.  It will be hard for my gs when he is in that age group, to pull things off, as his mother has done so much that she will be on the lookout.

As pessim-optimist said, I would research for discreet ways to track.  I know if they have use of car, that one could be placed on car. I would love to see what others have to say as well.

There's also another type of app called "SpyWare."  Google it to find out more.  The technology is stunning, but it's also scary because you can install it without the other person knowing it's there.  I don't know how to use it, or how to install it, but they do charge a monthly or annual fee for it.

My sister uses it to track her meth-using husband's whereabouts.  He works in the I.T. industry, so he's technically savvy and he doesn't know it's on his phone.  Not only can she see where he is, she can see his texts, listen in (like a bug), and turn on the phone's camera to see what's going on... . but only if his phone is out.

I think it could be helpful for parents of out-of-control teens, but beware that it is possible to find out more than you wanted to know.  My sister discovered her husband was using meth again, but she pretends she doesn't know so he doesn't find out about the spyware.  Knowing, but pretending not to know drives her NUTS!