cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/37022405

This is a carrier in the USA (T-Mobile).

I did a quick search for the other 2 carriers using the term “[Carrier Name] Family Tracking” and Verizon and AT&T also seems to have it.

And according to https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/t-mobile-familywhere-app, it says:

FamilyWhere uses geolocation data from the T-Mobile network and is not affected by changes to device location settings.

So it appears that its using cell tower triangulation. Turning on Airplane Mode should stop it (assuming there isn’t a separate tracking app on your phone)

Oh Wow, What a wonderful tool for abusive spouses and abusive parents. And telecom companies are making money off of it. 🙃

TLDR: Its a good idea to get your own separate cellular plan.

  • comrade_twisty@feddit.org
    1812·
    1 day ago

    I grew up in a time before cell phones, I had a lot more freedom than your kids will ever experience. Crime rates were much higher back then by the way. I still survived even though my parents rarely knew where I was between 4 and 6 pm, but I was always home in time for dinner.

        • Ledivin@lemmy.world
          142·
          1 day ago

          Several kids from my elementary school disappeared, never to be heard from again. This happened again in middle school, and twice in high school.

          Just because you weren’t paying attention back then or don’t remember now doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. As you said, crime was worse then.

          Basically any time someone says “This didn’t happen back in my day!” the response can be “the dead ones can’t talk about it.”

          • swelter_spark@reddthat.comEnglish
            1·
            4 hours ago

            When children are kidnapped, the kidnapper is most often a family member. It happened to a good friend of mine. I don’t see what good cell phone location tracking really does against that, though. A kidnapper can simply take a child’s phone away and toss it.

        • entwine413@lemm.ee
          42·
          1 day ago

          That’s not how anecdotal evidence works. Just because you aren’t aware of it being different for others doesn’t mean it wasn’t different for others.