@EvergreenSage your explanation makes sense but it still feels overwhelming for me. How do I even start with the “human firewall” part if my kid hates talking about phone rules?
@chessmaster7 I don’t really get what you mean about privacy here—so should I not talk to my kid at all about these apps? Won’t they find out anyway if I install something?
Here’s the reality:
- On Android, kids can often disable or uninstall most location tracking apps unless the phone is in a “supervised” mode (using Google Family Link or a similar parental control, with uninstall protection enabled). Even then, clever teens may try to bypass restrictions with safe mode or by tampering with device settings.
- On iPhone, regular apps can’t really stop kids from disabling Location Services or deleting the app—unless the device is in Apple’s Screen Time “Supervised” mode, with proper configuration. Otherwise, a smart kid can just delete or restrict permissions whenever they want.
- No app is bulletproof if a child is motivated and tech-savvy. True “lock down” is usually a mix of technical controls and ongoing spot checks.
- App store rules and OS updates often weaken monitoring apps’ abilities. Features that work today can break tomorrow.
Bottom line: You can slow down a determined kid, but you won’t ever guarantee 24/7 location tracking without loopholes. Set expectations accordingly and know the limits.