If you’re a parent of teens, Joanna Gaines may make you feel less alone.
The Fixer Upper star is a mom of five—Drake, 19, Ella, 18, Duke, 16, Emmie, 15, and Crew, 6—along with her husband Chip Gaines. And their four oldest kids have begun driving. While this can be an exciting milestone in a teen’s life, it’s one that can feel totally scary for parents.
In a new interview with People, Gaines says she’s keeping track of her teens even when she’s not in the car with them.
“I stalk them on the app Life360!” she tells the publication. “It tells you how fast they’re going.”
Gaines is definitely not alone: Research from the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) shows nearly 50% of parents use an app to track their kids’ driving. Another survey found 80% of parents use apps to track their child’s location, too. And 91% of Gen Alpha parents actively use location-sharing features, a Life360 survey revealed.
Do Location-Sharing Apps Have Benefits for Teen Drivers?
Life360, a location-sharing app, provides driving reports, such as speeding, hard braking, and phone usage behind the wheel. It also offers crash detection.
The USAA report found 87% of parents said their teen’s driving improved since they started using the app. “Young drivers were more observant of speed limits, less distracted by their cell phone, and had better awareness of other drivers,” the report stated.
Some parents feel tracking their teen’s driving is an invasion of privacy or may heighten their own anxiety. But experts say apps can be beneficial when used in a healthy way.
“If these apps are used as a means of surveillance, that’s when this can become an issue, as the app turns into a power and control tactic, which can lead to issues within the parent-child relationship,” Yaranil Ferrer, a licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey, previously told Parents.
But experts say it’s also important to urge kids to avoid using phones will driving and pull over if they are dealing with any distractions. Also, parents can help teens find the best route to take before getting behind the wheel.