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Original poster

AIBU to think child tracking implants would be useful until age 12?

83 replies

LucyLocker · 04/07/2026 15:02

Is it a thing? I was just thinking. When my kids were born, if there had been the option to put an implant tracker in their arm, let’s say for £100, I’d have done it. I’d propose all trackers are removed at age 12, to allow teens more responsibility and freedom, but before that age - why not? I can’t think a scenario my kids need to be somewhere I don’t know about. If kids were microchipped it would solve kidnappings. And estranged parents could know where their kid was.
What do you reckon?

OP posts:
Iloveeverycat · 04/07/2026 15:36

LucyLocker · 04/07/2026 15:29

Could be useful when you lose your kid. My neighbour lost her kid in a shopping centre last weekend. For about 30 minutes. She said it was the worst experience of her life!

How old.

Kallos · 04/07/2026 15:32

Jennalong · 04/07/2026 15:24

My sil has a severely non verbal autistic child and asked if that could be done for them .
She was told a firm no as it infringes their personal rights and is not appropriate even though they would have been very likely to be killed on the roads if they reached them ( they live rural )

Show quote history

Who the hell did she ask???

titchy · 04/07/2026 15:30

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 04/07/2026 15:18

Why stop at 12 OP why not put them into everyone. .

Why insert them when they can carry them around 24/7….

Original poster
LucyLocker · 04/07/2026 15:29

Could be useful when you lose your kid. My neighbour lost her kid in a shopping centre last weekend. For about 30 minutes. She said it was the worst experience of her life!

OP posts:
Anothernameretired · 04/07/2026 15:26

I'd like it for my cat, he has a chip in him anyway.

I'd be too worried that someone would chop my child's arm off to want to do it to him.

Jennalong · 04/07/2026 15:24

LucyLocker · 04/07/2026 15:02

Is it a thing? I was just thinking. When my kids were born, if there had been the option to put an implant tracker in their arm, let’s say for £100, I’d have done it. I’d propose all trackers are removed at age 12, to allow teens more responsibility and freedom, but before that age - why not? I can’t think a scenario my kids need to be somewhere I don’t know about. If kids were microchipped it would solve kidnappings. And estranged parents could know where their kid was.
What do you reckon?

My sil has a severely non verbal autistic child and asked if that could be done for them .
She was told a firm no as it infringes their personal rights and is not appropriate even though they would have been very likely to be killed on the roads if they reached them ( they live rural )

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 04/07/2026 15:23

Good god no - with the amount of sophisticated hackers out there - could you imagine what they would do if they could find the location of all kids ….. jeepers

AprilMizzel · 04/07/2026 15:22

But usually under 12 children are nearly always with a trusted adult, or in relatively safe situation?

This - my 11 year old august birthday Y7 at secondary did walk home alone - and some of her peers nearer 12 went home to empty houses but it was busy routes they knew and risk assed by parents.

Younger ages they were supervised or in relatively safe situations. It was time building up their skills so they could be out and about at older ages alone.

Plus how ends up having access compared to supposed to ie security would be an issue - plus removing said chips or even changing them for another to confuse.

I don't see how this benefits anyone TBH.

feathermucker · 04/07/2026 15:21

What the fuck is wrong with you?! Trackers?!

WhatAMarvelousTune · 04/07/2026 15:20

Only about 50 children a year are abducted by strangers in the UK (and have an average age of 11 so a lot would fall outside of your plan anyway). Obviously that’s 50 too many, but I imagine far more than 50 children leave with their mothers to escape abuse at the hands of the father/partner. Women’s refuges would be very easily found.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 04/07/2026 15:19

How black mirror of you...

Kallos · 04/07/2026 15:19

LucyLocker · 04/07/2026 15:11

oh yeah I hadn’t thought of that.

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Oh dear

Yetanotherone12 · 04/07/2026 15:18

But usually under 12 children are nearly always with a trusted adult, or in relatively safe situation?

the chance of kidnapping is extremely minuscule, especially if you aren’t rich to pay a ransom.

imo it’s later on when they start to gain independence and going places without a supervising adult. But then they are old enough that tracking isn’t appropriate, and it’s a breach of rights.

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 04/07/2026 15:18

Why stop at 12 OP why not put them into everyone. .

catslovehairties · 04/07/2026 15:17

1984 was not an instruction manual.

Darragon · 04/07/2026 15:16

Batshit

Visiblyabove25 · 04/07/2026 15:15

Teaching children the world is a terrifying place, and that they’re not individuals, independent of their parents until they are 12, goes against all research into child development and would inevitably lead to a mental health crisis amongst children and young people.

AgnesMcDoo · 04/07/2026 15:15

I’ve read a number of dystopian novels that use this as a device of terror.

no thanks

Original poster
LucyLocker · 04/07/2026 15:11

FadedRed · 04/07/2026 15:08

What’s to stop this ‘abductor’ kidnapping your microchipped child and removing the tracking device with a sharp knife?

oh yeah I hadn’t thought of that.

OP posts:
Original poster
LucyLocker · 04/07/2026 15:10

BlueBlueBerries · 04/07/2026 15:09

There was a Black Mirror episode like this, Arkangel

ooh thanks will watch

OP posts:
Original poster
LucyLocker · 04/07/2026 15:10

Kallos · 04/07/2026 15:06

Did anything happen to you child before 12 whereby you think this would have been very useful @LucyLocker ?

Thankfully not. But there’s lots of famous instances of kidnapping.

OP posts:
BlueBlueBerries · 04/07/2026 15:09

There was a Black Mirror episode like this, Arkangel

Frequency · 04/07/2026 15:09

I'm pretty sure there is an episode of Black Mirror that covers this. It did not end well.

Iloveeverycat · 04/07/2026 15:08

Are you a very anxious person. I don't get it when parents tract their kids with their phone. I think that's over the top.

Crunchymum · 04/07/2026 15:08

Kids tend to be with you or in some form of school / childcare until they are teenagers.... then you need to keep an eye on them.

Maybe not with tracking devices though!9