Parents Use AirTags to Track Kids
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Parents Use AirTags to Track Kids
Parents are using AirTags to track kids too young for phones. But these devices aren't the most accurate trackers.
Ten years ago, I wrote a NewsWire on parents using surveillance technologies to track their children's every move. And I predicted that this market would explode as more Xer parents got serious about raising their Homelander toddlers. (See "Big Mother Is Watching You.”) It turns out I was right.
Parents are using Apple (AAPL) AirTags to track their small children. The popular $29 tracker is a small disc that emits a Bluetooth signal detectable by nearby iPhones and iPads. The user is then given an approximate location of the AirTag. Parents are slipping these devices into their kids’ backpacks. And some companies even sell special wristbands that allow the child to wear the tracker.
Of course, Apple says these devices aren't meant for kids. And there is a good reason why. These trackers only give approximate locations. What’s more, if there isn’t at least one Apple device within 33 feet of the AirTag, it’s not likely to work at all. Smartphones and smartwatches connected to cell service can provide more precise and consistent monitoring. But those devices are significantly more expensive.
Nevertheless, this trend in surveillance shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s a telling quote from a parent interviewed by the WP: “I am 100 percent going to be keeping tabs on [my daughter] until I can’t. There’s too many stories out there.”
Did You Know?
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