Location sharing: what to turn off, and what to keep
Location sharing can keep a child safe or expose them to strangers. How to share with family while turning it off everywhere else.
- Share your child's location with parents only, not with friends lists or the public.
- Turn off location tagging on the camera, and check Snap Map and similar features.
- Talk about location tracking openly, especially with teenagers, rather than tracking in secret.
Being able to see where your child is can bring real peace of mind, especially with long commutes, unpredictable traffic and weather. But the same location data in the wrong hands is a risk. The goal is simple: family can see it, strangers can't.
Where location leaks
- Photos. Phone cameras can save the exact location in each photo. Some apps strip it when posting; not all do.
- Map features in apps. Snapchat's Snap Map can show your child's location to friends. Other apps have "nearby" features.
- Check-ins and tags. Tagging a mall, school or resort while still there.
- Background details. A school gate, street sign or store name in a video.
- Game profiles that show country, city or school.
- Fitness and run-tracking apps that make routes public.
What to turn off
- Camera location. On Android, open the Camera app settings and turn off location tags. On iPhone, go to Settings, Privacy & Security, Location Services, Camera, and choose Never.
- Snap Map. In Snapchat, turn on Ghost Mode. See Snapchat safety.
- Location in social apps. Set Facebook, Instagram and TikTok location access to Never or While Using, and avoid tagging places.
- App permissions. In phone settings, review which apps can use location. Games rarely need it.
What to keep
- Location sharing with parents through Google Family Link, Find My on iPhone, or your parental control app.
- Emergency location features, so emergency services can find the phone.
Talk about it, don't spy
Children, especially teenagers, are more likely to keep sharing their location if it's an agreement than if they discover it was secret. Explain why you want it ("so I know you got to school safely, and so I can find you if something happens"), and agree on when you'll check it.
For teenagers, consider:
- Checking only at agreed times or when they're late
- Letting them see your location too
- Planning a date when you'll review the arrangement
Posting after, not during
A simple habit for the whole family: post the beach photos after you've come home, not while you're there. The same goes for school events, malls and travel.
If someone your child doesn't know seems to know where they are, treat it seriously. Turn off location sharing, save screenshots, and read online grooming warning signs.
eGuard sets up screen time, bedtime and app rules on your child's phone and checks that each one is really on. Free for one child.