Tagging and tracking your kids via GPS..

slowbike

Bustacapp wrote:

mamba80 wrote:

Yes children go missing and are killed but if someone wants your kids, they ll take them regardless, do what-ever and leave you with a gps position of their body.
Kids need to understand risk and danger, learn the difference and make judgement calls, your not going to be around forever....or have you an app for that also?

I disagree with this. If I get notified that my child has left the designated area then I can get after him straight away. No I don't have an app for when I am dead, but then they would (hopefully I'll still be around) be fuilly grown adults by then.

Rather assumes that
1) you're notified ie there is a comms signal available to sender & recipient
2) the abductor removes them from the designated area complete with the tracking device

It's not foolproof - but it's probably an improvement on nothing ...

My wife and I can track each other using the built in iPhone apps - so it's on demand rather than push fed. Neither of us have any problem with it as we both know where each other will be anyway and it can save a phone call or worry - eg during the summer I rode home from a works evening bash - I'd already told my wife which ways I could go - text her with an update to say I was going route A and she was able to check that I was moving by using the tracker - she didn't need too - but as it was late, getting dark and partially on main roads she felt happier knowing I was moving and hadn't been knocked off by a passing vehicle or even a deer ..
eg2 - she went for a ride with a friend and I was going to meet them at a coffee stop - I was at the coffee stop first and able to check where she was without having to disturb her ride.
It's not essential, but it's just handy ...

Done the "kids are out of sight" bit a few times (young kids) - not quite panic mode - but certainly a concern when they disappear off ... GPS tracking ... dunno - not yet as they're not generally left outside un-supervised.

Bustacapp

Slowbike wrote:

Rather assumes that
1) you're notified ie there is a comms signal available to sender & recipient
2) the abductor removes them from the designated area complete with the tracking device

It's not foolproof - but it's probably an improvement on nothing ...

My wife and I can track each other using the built in iPhone apps - so it's on demand rather than push fed. Neither of us have any problem with it as we both know where each other will be anyway and it can save a phone call or worry - eg during the summer I rode home from a works evening bash - I'd already told my wife which ways I could go - text her with an update to say I was going route A and she was able to check that I was moving by using the tracker - she didn't need too - but as it was late, getting dark and partially on main roads she felt happier knowing I was moving and hadn't been knocked off by a passing vehicle or even a deer ..
eg2 - she went for a ride with a friend and I was going to meet them at a coffee stop - I was at the coffee stop first and able to check where she was without having to disturb her ride.
It's not essential, but it's just handy ...

Done the "kids are out of sight" bit a few times (young kids) - not quite panic mode - but certainly a concern when they disappear off ... GPS tracking ... dunno - not yet as they're not generally left outside un-supervised.

The app I use can be set to just view someone on a map if so desired. For example, my wife had no interest in the app and wouldn't even check it if I was late back from work. She's probably assume I've got a puncture or have been killed in a traffic accident and continue with her domestic chores.

DeVlaeminck

I don't have a problem with it for kids, For example my 11 year old is going into town with 2 friends next weekend. Yes I am slightly apprehensive, there are people in this city who will lookout for groups of kids and try and take advantage, but then I used to go into town on my own at that age and has the world changed that much?

I must admit I find the tracking of an adult whether older teen child or partner a bit more problematic but I suppose if both parties really want to do that it's fine.

morstar

daviesee wrote:

The internet age has raised awareness. Thats all.

Don't entirely agree. I was a latch key kid from a very young age and somehow survived the neglect.

But, much as I agree that heightened awareness and subsequent fear is the main issue, I do think there probably are more unsavoury patterns of behaviour being acted out. It is far easier for weirdos to connect with each other in the internet age. This can both validate and re-inforce twisted perceptions.

i.e. a solo sicko with no access to like minded folk may be less likely to offend. Once in contact with a network of people who share similar compulsions, they may be more likely to (or even encouraged to) offend.

Conversely, there has been a significant decrease in acts of vandalism over the same timescale that smartphones have been in existence. Too busy socialising to smash things up!?

daviesee

morstar wrote:

A counter point

I cant agree with the above.
The Ripper, Hindley, Yorkshire Ripper, Jimmy Saville etc, etc all happened before t'internet.
We knew about the murderers due to the high profile. What else was happening but not being reported Country wide?
Jimmy Saville probably wouldnt have got away with so much for so long had t'internet been available at the time.
Same crimes, more awareness, more fear.

I think the awareness is good but the fear is becoming more excessive than necessary.

Giraffoto

Probably the biggest problem is that the paranoid parent who keep their children at home all the time are ensuring that any children who are out and about may well be alone (gangs may have a bad press, but do they get abducted? No.) So there are fewer witnesses around to any abduction attempt, and potential victims are easier to grab.

daviesee

Giraffoto wrote:

Probably the biggest problem is that the paranoid parent who keep their children at home all the time are ensuring that any children who are out and about may well be alone (gangs may have a bad press, but do they get abducted? No.) So there are fewer witnesses around to any abduction attempt, and potential victims are easier to grab.

Good point. Plus, said over-protected children will have zero street smarts when they do eventually head out the door.

mamba80

Bustacapp wrote:

mamba80 wrote:

I think you are paranoid - the most dangerous thing you do with your kids is driving them about, how many are killed in RTAs compared to abductions?

I openly admit I am more paranoid than most. I worry about RTA's too which is why the phone tracker (life 360) I have can provide me with updates on whereabouts etc.

mamba80 wrote:

Yes children go missing and are killed but if someone wants your kids, they ll take them regardless, do what-ever and leave you with a gps position of their body.
Kids need to understand risk and danger, learn the difference and make judgement calls, your not going to be around forever....or have you an app for that also?

I disagree with this. If I get notified that my child has left the designated area then I can get after him straight away. No I don't have an app for when I am dead, but then they would (hopefully I'll still be around) be fuilly grown adults by then.

Look, i ve got a teenager and i ve been a single parent since she was 10mths old, there is nothing i would nt do for her safety but the world isnt a safe place and neither are the people in it.
In your senario, a determined abductor would have the child in a car and gone, how long before the Police get involved? 10mins or 2hrs either way, the kid is dead.
time an effort spent educating them of the dangers, looking at who they spend time with and most importantly spending time with them and getting them involved in activities they like doing with family or with their friends - a tracking device ie phone, can easily be left in a coat, they play footie, wander off with friends etc and your non the wiser (i think there would be wellfare issues if you implanted it ?) what about battery life here?
there are no gaurantees in life - gps tracking can give a dangerous false sense of security - much like the Mccanns had in Portugal, they were in a "holiday resort" in holiday mode and the norms they had in england went out the window......along with their poor child.

morstar

daviesee wrote:

morstar wrote:

A counter point

I cant agree with the above.
The Ripper, Hindley, Yorkshire Ripper, Jimmy Saville etc, etc all happened before t'internet.
We knew about the murderers due to the high profile. What else was happening but not being reported Country wide?
Jimmy Saville probably wouldnt have got away with so much for so long had t'internet been available at the time.
Same crimes, more awareness, more fear.

I think the awareness is good but the fear is becoming more excessive than necessary.

I'm talking about someone on the verges of carrying out crime. Of course people will do sh1tty things regardless of technology. I am suggesting someone could be more disposed to commit a crime that in another era they may not have done. Not that sexual crimes exist because of the internet.

rolf_f

daviesee wrote:

zero street smarts

:?

Anyway, sad that parents ruin children by scaring them with their excessive and unjustified fears. People are getting increasingly rubbish (eg the numpties who phone air sea rescue because they stubbed their toe on a rock in the Lake District) and these spy apps won't help.

It might be better if the parents were a bit less cowardly so that their children might become a bit less cowardly themselves and more street smart (daviesee - see, you can use the term without sounding like Hannah Montana!).

daviesee

Mmmmm.
Now your talking.

Mikey23

Is that one of those new Sky tops? Def looks better on her than wiggo...

Giraffoto

She's definitely a cyclist - look, she's just taken her helmet off after riding 150k

Daz555

GPS tracker - useful if your kid gets lost. However kids can be taught not to get lost. GPS tracker would be of little help in cases of abduction as tracker would be ditched in the process.

I'll not be GPS tracking my kids. Paranoid nonsense imo.

rodgers73

What happened to educating your chikldren to become functioning adults? Stuff like this means you raise an overgrown baby. It isnt looking after your kids - its a form of neglect. They need to know how to look after themselves and how to cope on their own. All this does is prevent that.

mamba80

i asked my daughter what she though of the idea, especially the form of a tracking device implanted at birth, she said "thats abuse and i ll sue you for neglect"

Mikey23

My 16 year old boy pretty much comes and goes as he pleases. If his mates get in touch he's off. As long as I know where he is and who he's with and roughly what he's doing and when he is back, I'm not overly fussed. He has his phone and he's not slow to ask for a taxi if his legs are tired. Sure I would like to wrap him in cotton wool but he's a young adult and I have to accept that.

Bustacapp

mamba80 wrote:

Look, i ve got a teenager and i ve been a single parent since she was 10mths old, there is nothing i would nt do for her safety but the world isnt a safe place and neither are the people in it.
In your senario, a determined abductor would have the child in a car and gone, how long before the Police get involved? 10mins or 2hrs either way, the kid is dead.
time an effort spent educating them of the dangers, looking at who they spend time with and most importantly spending time with them and getting them involved in activities they like doing with family or with their friends - a tracking device ie phone, can easily be left in a coat, they play footie, wander off with friends etc and your non the wiser (i think there would be wellfare issues if you implanted it ?) what about battery life here?
there are no gaurantees in life - gps tracking can give a dangerous false sense of security - much like the Mccanns had in Portugal, they were in a "holiday resort" in holiday mode and the norms they had in england went out the window......along with their poor child.

You're complicating things really. You should know where your 6 year old is all the time and if there is an added safety net then I'm all for it.