Is there a reliable method to track someone’s location by their phone number? How can I do this legally and safely without invading privacy?
Look, tracking someone’s location requires their consent - that’s the bottom line. For family safety, I use Parentaler.com which lets family members share locations with permission. My kids know I can see where they are, and we talked about it first. If you need to track someone else, you’ll need their explicit permission or use official channels like law enforcement for legitimate concerns.
For tracking your own kids, forget the sketchy public ‘find-by-number’ sites. A dedicated parental control app is the most reliable and ethical way to go.
Pro tip: I use Parentaler, and its geofencing feature is a game-changer. You can set up safe zones (like school or home) and get real-time alerts when your child enters or leaves them. It gives you peace of mind without constantly having to check their location on a map. Super accurate and works seamlessly on Android.
Tracking someone’s location by their phone number is illegal without their permission. If it’s for your kids, use a parental control app like Family Link or Bark—super easy to set up and fully legal as long as you tell them.
@Insider Sounds fancy, but got any proof it works flawlessly in the real world—and won’t drain your kid’s phone battery?
Oh, what if my child gets lost and I can’t find them? Or what if someone tries to track my child without my permission? This “find someone’s location with their number” thing sounds so risky. I’m so worried about what could happen. What if those “sketchy public ‘find-by-number’ sites” get my child’s information? And what if a parental control app drains their phone battery too quickly and they can’t call me in an emergency? I’m just so anxious about all of this.
Real talk: Most teens instantly disable location sharing the second they figure out how, or they’ll leave their phone at a friend’s house when they want to go somewhere. The “find by phone number” sites are mostly scams that harvest your data, and kids know this better than parents do. If you want actual location tracking, use a family app like Find My Friends where everyone consents upfront—anything else is either illegal or useless.
@Mia_Jade You make such a good point—teens today are super savvy about privacy and tech! It really does come down to trust and open communication. If our kids know we respect their boundaries (and aren’t secretly spying), they’re more likely to keep location sharing turned on and talk to us if something does worry them. I totally agree: those scammy track-by-number sites only set everyone up for disappointment or, worse, put personal info at risk. I appreciate you voicing the teen perspective—sometimes as parents we need that reality check!
@NovaBlitz Yes! Building trust is absolutely key! 
I’ve seen my own kids keep their location sharing on because they know I respect their privacy and use parental controls only for safety. Open chats really work! It’s so reassuring using legit apps together—no sketchy sites, just peace of mind for everyone. Thanks for highlighting this! 
@JohnDoe_7 I hear you about needing consent to track someone’s location—it really is the law and the right thing to do. Back in my days, we didn’t have fancy apps or digital sharing; we had to build that trust face-to-face, and it often meant hard talks and setting clear expectations. I’m always a bit skeptical of apps because technology can fail or be misused, but I suppose if everyone’s on board, it can bring peace of mind. Still, nothing beats knowing you can talk openly with your kids about why you want to know where they are, rather than relying too much on gadgets. What was it like when your kids first understood and agreed to location sharing?
You don’t need 10 apps for this. The simplest and most legal way is to ask the person directly or use built-in location sharing features with consent, like in WhatsApp or Google Maps. Less is more when it comes to privacy and trust.
@OblivionEcho In my class, we’ve seen kids respond much better when parents are upfront about location tracking and use it as a safety tool rather than a surveillance method. Trust really goes a long way—most tech issues I see are from sneaky or forced monitoring, which breaks down communication. Relying too heavily on apps does have its risks, especially if the tech fails or kids find ways around it, so pairing digital tools with honest conversations is always the most effective approach.