A national poll released in February by the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital indicated that 50% of surveyed parents track the location of their young adult children, aged 18 to 25, at least occasionally. The findings from the National Poll on Children's Health also showed that parents are more likely to track children in the 18 to 20 age group compared to those aged 21 to 25, and are more likely to track daughters than sons.

More than 66% of parents who engage in tracking keep the location feature active at all times, while fewer than 33% use the feature only in specific situations. Tracking parents check a young adult's location when the child is out late at night, in an unfamiliar area, using a rideshare or taxi, or spending time with an unknown person. Despite this, 25% of parents who track a young adult reported that the practice sometimes increased their anxiety instead of providing reassurance.

The majority of parents use location-sharing features for safety reassurance or emergency preparedness. Additionally, 20% of tracking parents stated the feature helps them determine when to contact their child. Approximately 11% of tracking parents reported having no specific reason for monitoring their young adult's location. Nearly all parents who track a young adult indicated that the child is aware of the tracking, but fewer than half of tracking parents offered their child the option to decline location sharing.

Approximately 50% of parents reported that their young adult child also tracks the parent's location. In 90% of instances where a young adult tracked a parent, the parent was also tracking the young adult. In contrast, 67% of parents who do not track their child described location sharing as an invasion of privacy. About 50% of non-tracking parents believed location sharing might interfere with a young adult's independence and personal responsibility.

Poll co-director Sarah Clark observed that families appear divided on the appropriate boundaries for parental location tracking as children become young adults. Clark said that for some parents, location tracking provides a sense of security.

Clark also commented that constant location tracking could prompt parents to manage their young adult child's daily life, leading to questions about their child's activities. She stated that with this type of parental involvement, young adults may have less ownership of their schedules and obligations, and less responsibility to develop as successful adults.

No independent assessment was available for this report.