Digital Location Tracking of Children and Adolescents: A Theoretical Framework and Review

Many parents in the U.S. have begun using GPS-based digital location tracking (DLT) technologies (smartphones, tags, wearables) to track the whereabouts of children and adolescents. This paper lays the foundation for an emerging science of DLT by performing the first theoretical analysis and review of empirical literature on DLT. First, we develop a framework to clarify how DLT should be conceptualized and measured, how it compares to historical strategies for monitoring youths' location, and the mechanisms by which it might affect youth adjustment. Second, we review what is known about DLT today, finding that (1) DLT use is now common from childhood to emerging adulthood, with 33-69% of U.S. families using it; (2) there are sociodemographic differences in DLT use; (3) DLT use has significant cross-sectional associations with other parenting behaviors, with family functioning, and with youth adjustment; and (4) there is much speculation, but minimal data, about the new ethical and developmental issues that might arise from DLT use (e.g., privacy invasions). Third, we critique the existing evidence base to outline priorities for future research, emphasizing the need for longitudinal data, better measurement, and moving beyond convenience samples. We conclude that DLT is a new, common, and vastly understudied parenting behavior of clinical and developmental relevance.