The Good and the Bad of Location Sharing
By Aniyah McLemore
FWIS Youth Writer
In 2025 apps like FindMy, Life360, snapmaps, and others have become more common. Popular companies have also come out with tracking devices, for example, the apple airtag.
Many of these tools listed above can be very helpful if used correctly. Location tracking apps can simply be used to check someone's whereabouts within seconds. For example, as a new driver my parents can use Life360’s crash detection feature to alert them if I am unable to call them on my own, track the speeds I am driving at, and to reassure them that I am where I am supposed to be. Viral videos of many parents of young children that don’t have cellular devices on them at all times show them putting airtags in the child's bookbag, coat pocket, in shoes, and other places so they are able to have the location of their child at all times in case something unexpected happens.
On the other hand, these tools can also be very dangerous. Viral social media posts have shown people from all over the world joining the same tracking circle and being able to see thousands of peoples exact locations within seconds. Once apple airtags were released in 2021 it was reported as early as then that people were using them to track someone without their consent. With airtags being only about the size of a quarter, they were being placed under cars, in purses/bookbags, and various other hidden locations that a person would likely never suspect. Apple has since tried their best to add safety features for apple users by sending them a notification that says “airtag found moving near you”. Although this is helpful to notify someone of something unusual, it can be very unsettling because you don’t know who is tracking you or where the tracker is.
In conclusion, where there is good, there is also bad. Be wise when sharing your location, no matter your circumstance. Have conversations with your family before sharing your location with others to decide if it is a wise choice. Being smart when using these tools will ensure your safety and others around you.