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Parent Plight: Is it right to track your kids?

Some parents are turning to phone apps and other devices to monitor their children. Is this right or wrong?

AUSTIN, Ark. (KTHV) - It's the age-old question: Where are you?

More and more parents are turning to tracking apps and devices to get the answer.

“There is a lot they can get into that obviously they wouldn't want us to know about,” said Austin mother, Heather Webb.

As a mother of a 15-year-old, knowing where her daughter is at all times is essential to Webb.

“We believe that it is our responsibility to raise them the best that we can and being involved in all that I think is a big part of it,” she said.

That’s why, in February, Webb decided to install a tracking app on her daughter's cell phone.

“There wasn't much discussion. We just told her if she wanted the phone she was going to have to have it on there,” she said.

The free app, called Life360, allows Webb to track her daughter's location whether she's at school, a friend’s house or at home.

“I have it set to give me a notification if she’s at school or if she leaves the school you can put however many feet circumference you want from that place,” said Webb. “It also tells me her battery life, so if I send her a message and she says, ‘Oh my phone was dead,’ I can say, ‘Well this says you have 28 percent.’”

It’s peace of mind for Mother Webb, but her daughter, Taylor, views it as a slight invasion of privacy.

“I think it's weird that they know exactly where I am even though I guess that is what parents are supposed to do,” said Taylor Sexton.

Life360 is one of dozens of tracking apps you can install on your child's phone.

If you're not ready to get them a phone, there are also devices like the Gizmo Gadget which still allows you to track their location. Your child will only be able to call and text numbers that you have inputted.

“I think it's what I would like to term "responsible spying",” said Katie Walker.

Walker is a Registered Therapist with Chenal Family Therapy. She said tracking your child is completely acceptable, but she does suggest a 3-step approach to build trust.

“Text once. Wait 5 -10 minutes for a response. Call. If they don't answer then we can check the app,” said Walker.

Walker said another way to build trust is by allowing the entire family to keep track of each other. That way, the teen will feel like the playing field is even.

While most teenagers don't like the added layer of protection, Walker believes, at the end of the day, it's the teen who controls the trust.

“If a teen is where he or she is supposed to be any time, that's going to create a lesser chance that the parent is going to check the app,” she said.

As for Webb and her daughter, she said she'll keep tracking her, at least as long as she's allowed.

“Forever or until she turns 18 and she can tell me I’m not allowed to have it on there,” laughed Webb.

The Life360 app also allows you to track things your teenager’s speed when they are driving, how far they travel and how long it takes them to arrive at their destination.

It will even notify an emergency contact if your teen gets into an accident.

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