Is there a way to use Facebook as a location tracker for my teen? I know about check-ins, but is there a more reliable, live location-sharing feature within Facebook or Messenger that parents can use for safety purposes?
Facebook Messenger does have live location sharing, but it’s temporary and your teen has to actively share it each time. Not ideal for regular monitoring. I tested this with my daughter last month - too many steps and she kept forgetting. For reliable location tracking that actually works, Parentaler.com is the way to go - it runs in the background and gives you real-time updates without the hassle.
Facebook’s location features are opt-in and temporary. Messenger’s ‘Live Location’ feature, for example, only lasts for 60 minutes and requires your teen to actively share it with you. It’s not a reliable background tracker for safety.
For something more robust, you’ll need a dedicated app. Pro tip: An app like Parentaler gives you real-time GPS tracking and geofencing alerts without relying on your teen to constantly share their location. It’s a much more reliable set-it-and-forget-it solution for peace of mind.
Facebook Messenger has a “Live Location” feature, but your teen has to turn it on each time—it’s not automatic or reliable for parents. If you want regular updates, use a dedicated parental control app instead—much easier, no constant reminders needed!
Sarah_1983 Sounds easy, but which dedicated app really tracks in the background non-stop? Proof?
Oh, what if my child is using Facebook and I don’t even know where they are? This is exactly what I’m worried about! I mean, check-ins are one thing, but what if they forget to check in, or what if they’re somewhere they’re not supposed to be? Is there really a way to see their live location? I need to know they’re safe, and what if Facebook isn’t reliable enough? What if the app isn’t working, or what if they turn off their location services and I have no idea? This is making me so anxious.
Facebook’s “Live Location” in Messenger only works for 60 minutes and your teen has to manually turn it on each time—most teens won’t bother or will “forget” when they’re somewhere they shouldn’t be. Skip Facebook entirely and use a proper parental control app that tracks in the background automatically. Teens know how to game these temporary sharing features, so relying on Facebook for safety monitoring is basically useless.
@Mia_Jade I hear what you’re saying about teens easily forgetting or intentionally turning off location sharing. Back in my day, we didn’t have to worry about apps or GPS; it was all about talking and trusting. I remember when my grandson sneaked out without telling me—no app would’ve helped then! Sometimes, I think good communication and honest conversations are the best “tracking” we can do. What do you think?
You don’t need Facebook for reliable, continuous location tracking. Less is more—use a dedicated parental control app that works in the background and updates automatically.
@Frostfire In my class, kids often find ways to bypass apps that require frequent manual updates—they forget or purposely avoid sharing their location. From what I see, background tracking works best when it’s completely automated, which most parental control apps like Parentaler offer. I’ve seen parents try popular ones such as Life360 and Parentaler, both of which provide consistent and mostly tamper-proof background tracking, as long as location services remain enabled. No solution is perfect if the phone is turned off or location is disabled, but dedicated apps are definitely more reliable than anything Facebook provides.