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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for help with a tracking device

27 replies

hopelessholly1 · 16/12/2024 15:26

Not aibu bot don't know where to ask:
I need a tracker I can put into my child's bag which offers real life tracking. Child will not accept phone tracking (complex MH needs and needs some sort of tracking, been request by school too). We just need something to track them in real life time. I ordered a Tile Mate and didn't realise it only updates when within Bluetooth range of my phone so completely useless. I am not techy and just cannot work it out.

OP posts:
sparkellie · 16/12/2024 15:27

How old is your child?

CissOff · 16/12/2024 15:28

AirTag?

whyonearthinallofthis · 16/12/2024 15:28

Air tag

whyonearthinallofthis · 16/12/2024 15:28

CissOff · 16/12/2024 15:28

AirTag?

Great minds 😁

Original poster
hopelessholly1 · 16/12/2024 15:29

sparkellie · 16/12/2024 15:27

How old is your child?

teen. Needed due to MH issues/poor MH.

OP posts:
Original poster
hopelessholly1 · 16/12/2024 15:30

Is airtag not an apple thing? my phone is android. will it work?

OP posts:
WetBandits · 16/12/2024 15:32

Just wanted to advise posters to be wary of sharing tips on how to hide tracking devices.

randomchap · 16/12/2024 15:34

If they won't accept phone tracking, would the accept a tracker? Or are you planning to do it secretly? Is their MH so bad that you have to risk damaging the trust between you?

sparkellie · 16/12/2024 15:36

hopelessholly1 · 16/12/2024 15:29

teen. Needed due to MH issues/poor MH.

Show quote history

Can I ask what the issues are? I don't believe it is ever OK to track someone without their knowledge. If they aren't responsible enough to be out alone then they don't go out alone, or they accept that part of that is having tracking on for a certain amount of time, maybe with agreed limits and ways to earn the right not to have tracking. Essentially I am sure you are coming from a good place but what issues are there that tracking is actually going to resolve?

JabbaTheBeachHut · 16/12/2024 15:37

If the school have requested it, can they not advise?

GoldsolesLugs · 16/12/2024 15:38

I could be wrong, but I think both Android and Apple phones will detect an airtag that moves with the phone and alert the user. This is an anti-stalking measure so I don't think you can turn it off. If you're trying to track your kid secretly it won't work.

Original poster
hopelessholly1 · 16/12/2024 15:42

sparkellie · 16/12/2024 15:36

Can I ask what the issues are? I don't believe it is ever OK to track someone without their knowledge. If they aren't responsible enough to be out alone then they don't go out alone, or they accept that part of that is having tracking on for a certain amount of time, maybe with agreed limits and ways to earn the right not to have tracking. Essentially I am sure you are coming from a good place but what issues are there that tracking is actually going to resolve?

Show quote history

They are happy to carry a tracker. They just don't want any app on their phone. I wouldn't do it secretly. We need it to track where they are on the taxi on the way to school and back as there have been issues in the past with absconding when school didn't realise the taxi arrived early. Child is happy with being tracked that way. Just not via the phone.

OP posts:
Original poster
hopelessholly1 · 16/12/2024 15:43

randomchap · 16/12/2024 15:34

If they won't accept phone tracking, would the accept a tracker? Or are you planning to do it secretly? Is their MH so bad that you have to risk damaging the trust between you?

yes, they would. they just don't want stuff on their phone. Happy to carry a tracker.

OP posts:
Larryimonducktales · 16/12/2024 15:44

Is the tile app also on her phone? Tile uses a network of people with the app installed.

Android has a similar tracking network to apple now (although it's not as good yet). The devices that work with it are the Moto tag, chipolo one point (make sure it's this model), or the pebblebee tags (make sure it's the android one).

Of the 3 I would choose the Moto tag as the uwb will hopefully work soon. It's also roughly the size of an airtag so the accessories fit for the most part.

Is her phone also android? You should make sure both her and your find my device settings on your phones are on "with network in all areas".

If she has an iPhone you might be better off with the tile as it works on both OSs.

Original poster
hopelessholly1 · 16/12/2024 15:46

Larryimonducktales · 16/12/2024 15:44

Is the tile app also on her phone? Tile uses a network of people with the app installed.

Android has a similar tracking network to apple now (although it's not as good yet). The devices that work with it are the Moto tag, chipolo one point (make sure it's this model), or the pebblebee tags (make sure it's the android one).

Of the 3 I would choose the Moto tag as the uwb will hopefully work soon. It's also roughly the size of an airtag so the accessories fit for the most part.

Is her phone also android? You should make sure both her and your find my device settings on your phones are on "with network in all areas".

If she has an iPhone you might be better off with the tile as it works on both OSs.

Edited

Tile is not on DCs phone. They don't have mobile data in any case. would it help to install the tile app (without installing the life360 app)?

OP posts:
GoldsolesLugs · 16/12/2024 15:47

If your child agrees to the tracking, can't you just get them to share their location using google maps? I don't think it needs any extra apps but you'd have to trust them not to turn it off. That would be the same as a tracker device though - you'd have to trust them not to ditch it.

YouveGotAFastCar · 16/12/2024 15:48

GoldsolesLugs · 16/12/2024 15:38

I could be wrong, but I think both Android and Apple phones will detect an airtag that moves with the phone and alert the user. This is an anti-stalking measure so I don't think you can turn it off. If you're trying to track your kid secretly it won't work.

Yeah, this. Not only will an AirTag tell your child, but it'll tell anyone they're with, too.

CagneyAndLazy · 16/12/2024 15:49

GoldsolesLugs · 16/12/2024 15:38

I could be wrong, but I think both Android and Apple phones will detect an airtag that moves with the phone and alert the user. This is an anti-stalking measure so I don't think you can turn it off. If you're trying to track your kid secretly it won't work.

Exactly that.

If you are being 'followed' by an Air Tag, or similar, you are warned. I get alerts regularly on flights when taxiing around the runways before take off, for example, as iPhones detect Air Tags in peoples hand luggage which is travelling in close proximity to you but not registered to you.

GoldsolesLugs · 16/12/2024 15:52

YouveGotAFastCar · 16/12/2024 15:48

Yeah, this. Not only will an AirTag tell your child, but it'll tell anyone they're with, too.

Show quote history

Hadn't thought of that. It could be embarrassing for them.

Theperenniallaunderess · 16/12/2024 15:53

We use a Tractive for our dog which works on GPS. Could work in this situation too.

Sonolanona · 16/12/2024 20:09

A Tractive dog tracker would do the job... it's very accurate and if you click 'live' mode on your phone it literally tracks every step.

Larryimonducktales · 16/12/2024 22:07

hopelessholly1 · 16/12/2024 15:46

Tile is not on DCs phone. They don't have mobile data in any case. would it help to install the tile app (without installing the life360 app)?

Show quote history

The tile app on her phone would help ping the device, but it would only be useful with data. Google find my device might still work if she's around other people who opted in, or likewise with tile if she's around other tile users.

I think maybe pp are right about the pet trackers, but without data on phone it might limit the options.

randomchap · 16/12/2024 22:22

hopelessholly1 · 16/12/2024 15:43

yes, they would. they just don't want stuff on their phone. Happy to carry a tracker.

Show quote history

How are they with allowing access to their phone generally? If it's not the fact of being tracked they're uncomfortable with, could there be something on their phone that they don't want you to see?

Redglitter · 16/12/2024 22:26

You'd be better just downloading the Life 360 app and connecting the tile that way.

It shows separately to phones & I've found it to be really accurate

Doggymummar · 16/12/2024 22:28

We use location sharing on Google maps