Familial situations are evermore varying and have subsequent dynamics between members that do not always fit what you and your family may consider being "normal." Incorporated into this dynamic is the level of trust and involvement in each other's lives, bringing me to the widely debated app amongst younger generations. Life360: Noted for its usefulness in traffic-related incidents such as flat tires, jump starts, collisions reporting and other roadside services, has also become a popular means of tracking your children.
The app gained popularity shortly after entering the market because of its practical use in tracking close friends and family who are apart of your designated "circle." The early adopters were the most cautious parents, not only was it a peace of mind to the consumer but it ensured a more invasive role in your child's life, but perhaps to their detriment. The debut of the app was in 2008 but slowly gained traction to arrive at its current place in the app store as the premier tool in a helicopter parent's bag of tricks. Despite studies showing the need for privacy in childhood development, the app remains near the tipping point as more and more parents gain an understanding of the technology.
The intentions of this app may have once been pure and not unlike similar programs like Apple's "Find My Friends," but somewhere along the way, it seems that life360 devolved into the all-seeing eyes of Big Brother (1984, George Orwell). The downside to this class of privacy limiter does not only fall unto the child robbed of independence but to the parent as well. An unhealthy obsession with the life of someone other than your own, child or not, does not pose abounding benefits to either party. The app used in moderation and with clear boundaries discussed with all participants may warrant the usage, but because of the needlessly protective parenting styles in recent years, life360 is often abused. Unfortunately, because what I suspect to be a heightened sense of control, I do not foresee this technology quickly descending the saturation curve and exiting the market entirely.
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