Most parents track their 18-25-year-old kids on their smartphones. Is that healthy?

Article excerpt

A University of Michigan survey found that most parents of young adults aged 18, 25 use smartphone tracking technology to monitor their children, including continuous location tracking. The study raises questions about whether this surveillance practice supports safety or undermines the developmental work of early adulthood, establishing independence, managing risk, and building trust. Researchers interviewed parents about their monitoring habits and what drives them, exploring the tension between parental anxiety and adult autonomy. The findings reflect broader cultural shifts in how technology mediates family relationships and the blurred boundaries between protection and intrusion.