'They're constantly looking': Helicopter parents keep tracking 19-year-old daughter's location on Life360 while she's at college, always questioning where she's going, daughter threatens to delete "invasive" app

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Sep 14, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

This college student isn't even studying to be a pilot, yet she still can't seem to get rid of her helicopter parents…and their new best friend since she moved out? You guessed it, the Live360 app, also known as every teen's worst nightmare. But that's exactly the point, she is no longer a 'teen', but now a young adult attending college, and hopefully responsible enough to look after herself. So is it really necessary for a 19-year-old to have parents watching their every move, constantly checking their whereabouts, and "why in the world, you missed church last Sunday's?"...Free drinks at the Mexican restaurant next to the dorms, mom! That's why…

We've all had a few unwanted incidents with our parents and the Life360 app, let's just say it's not what I'd call the white peace flag in any parent-teenager relationship…But time and time again, they claim it's for safety, yet when you're being lectured for arriving home at 5 am (still safe and sound), for some reason, we're still receiving the same old lectures…and then we try to turn it off, and you can imagine how that goes. It means we are forced to sit through a few very awkward Sunday morning breakfasts awaiting the ever dreaded question of, "So, where did you sleep last night"...no matter what your answer may be, their response is always the same, 'That's strange, because somehow your Live360 stopped working,' fast forward to the ripe age of 22, and I'm pretty sure I'm still being punished for that to this day… 

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  • So the joys of having parental tracking never end. Sadly, we live in a world that requires it in many places, and we can acknowledge that. However, if your child is old enough to leave home, they're probably old enough to receive a bit of privacy. So take a deep breath, because it might be time to allow the helicopter parenting style to descend and prepare for landing… 

  • 01
    Older couple checking their phone
    via kampus

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    WIBTA if I threatened to turn of my Life360?

    I (19F) am in my first week of college. I've had life360 with my parents since I was about 16 for general safety reasons. However,
    via throwaway830583
  • 03
    they're a bit overbearing and controlling about where I go, even after I turned 18. I've found myself being extremely stressed
    via throwaway830583
  • 04
    about doing very normal things and being worried about them getting upset. Before I left for college my mom asked me to leave my life360 on,
    via throwaway830583
  • 05
    joking about how she "wants to know what ditch to get me out of" if something goes wrong, which I completely understand,
    via throwaway830583
  • 06
    but my parents have been obsessively checking my location since I've gotten here. They've mentioned in passing places I
    via throwaway830583
  • 07
    went (literally like stores to buy stuff for school) when I didn't tell them I was going. They've been pressuring me to go to church
    via throwaway830583
  • 08
    and checking my location frequently to make sure I am (I don't want to but I like to keep the peace). It's a bit uncomfortable.
    via throwaway830583
  • 09
    I'm wondering if I'd be an a hle if I told them that if they don't stop stalking me, I'm going to turn off my life360. I understand
    via throwaway830583
  • 10
    their reasoning behind wanting Ime to have it, but it's uncomfortable knowing that wherever I am they're probably looking constantly. I'd appreciate any input yall have.
    via throwaway830583
  • 11
    Annoyed young woman on a call
    via Mikhail Nilov

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    mvms NTA. Gods, I remember the days when the answer to "where is your kid?" was "h | if I know, she's due back at dinner". I cannot imagine living under the crushing surveillance of Life 360.
    via mvms
  • 13
    LetterkennyHaikus No, and honestly it would be better for your long term relationship. But do be careful those first couple years of freedom after having overbearing parents can be dangerous. NTA.
    via LetterkennyHaikus
  • 14
    No-Strawberry-5804 NTA, but if they're paying your way right now, it could jeopardize that support. Have you talked to them about how uncomfortable this makes you? Is your dad just as bad as your mom?
    via No-Strawberry-5804
  • 15
    Nola Germajun NTA they are taking it a little too far. However, if they pay for your phone, prepare to buy your own plan
    via Nola_Germajun
  • 16
    tidymaze NTA I personally find that app creepy.
    via tidymaze
  • 17
    Sufficient_Stop8381 NTA. No adult should be forced to have a nanny tracker if they don't want it. I will never ever use one of those things. By the way, life 360 or other nanny apps can do very little to actually save anyone if something serious happens in the moment.
    via Sufficient_Stop8381
  • 18
    gewqk NTA, but I'd be a bit more gentle with the language you use when you tell them you're disabling this. You're an adult, trying to become independent. Having 24/7 surveillance by parents holds you back from making your own path in life.
    via gewqk
  • 19
    Maybe a compromise is acceptable here. For example: "I'm going to turn off the life360 but I'll give you a call on a weekly basis to let you know how things are going."
    via gewqk
  • 20
    oliviamrow NTA. You're an adult. It was her job to teach you how to get out of your own ditches.
    via oliviamrow
  • 21
    Vikiik I am also a student, and my parents have me on Life360. As a freshman, I had to have the whole "you guys cannot dictate where and when I go somewhere" conversation with them. It took them a while to get used to me being more independent, but it got better with time, and now it's solely used for safety purposes.
    via Vikiik
  • 22
    CuddleChicpick NTA. Life360 is supposed to be for emergencies, not for your parents to run surveillance on you like the FBI. You're grown, you deserve privacy. Setting a boundary like "use it responsibly or I'm turning it off" is completely fair.
    via CuddleChicpick
  • 23
    steinerific You are 19. When do you think your mother will stop being a helicopter parent? 35? 50? You're an adult. Turn it off. Let your mother yell at you for a few days, then ask her that same question.
    via steinerific

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tracking over protective life360 following adulting treating-like-child helicopter parents parenting disconnect turn off dad share-location family daughter mom college parents
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