AirTags are small, battery-operated devices that connect to your smartphone to send their locations as well as various useful information. They’re small enough to be attached to kids’ clothing; that’s why parents most commonly use them as a solution for monitoring their children’s location. The general idea is that your child will take their AirTag device with them wherever they go enabling you to track their location. However, is this technology efficient? Are there better alternatives? Keep reading to find out more about AirTags, and whether or not they’re something you should consider if you have a child.
How Does an AirTag Work?
Unlike most tracking devices, AirTags do not need any kind of internet connection or GPS signals to work. AirTags use a combination of Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband technology to track locations and send the data to your phone. Whenever someone moves an AirTag, it broadcasts Bluetooth Low Energy signals to the phone it’s connected to.
Pros of Using Apple Tags as a Child Tracking Device
The Apple tags have a variety of benefits, both for parents and children. For parents, Apple tags have the potential to create peace of mind, helping them feel more secure knowing their child is safe and where they are in real-time.
For children, the benefits come in many forms, including receiving messages from loved ones and having the location of their parents or caregivers always at their fingertips. With Apple AirTags, if a child’s parent has a problem, they can send location-based updates on their child’s iPhone. This could be very reassuring to a child who is worried about the well-being of their parents.
Cons of Using Apple Tags as a Child Tracking Device
As appealing as Apple tags sound, they have a few drawbacks that make them a less-than-ideal choice for child tracking. For a starter, the battery lasts for only several days. So, if your child wears their tag all day, it won’t make it through the night.
Another drawback is that the Bluetooth signals can be easily disrupted. For example, if your child’s tag is in their pocket and their leg bumps against a piece of furniture, the tag will lose its connection to the app.
Another possible drawback of Apple tags is that they are costly. Depending on how many tags you buy, they can easily come out to more than $1,000. That’s a significant expenditure to make sure you’re able to track your child’s location while there are less costly solutions available.
Parental Control Apps as an Alternative to AirTags as a Child Tracking Solution
If you don’t like the idea of using Apple tags or you want to go a step further and monitor your child’s digital activity, you can look into installing one of the parental control apps available on the market. These apps let you see your child’s real-time location and location history. On top of that, they let you set restrictions such as limiting the time your child can spend online or setting time limits for watching videos or playing games.
A big advantage parental control apps have over Apple AirTags is that with only one app, you can monitor and control your child’s activity over multiple devices (phones, tablets, computers) with various operating systems (Android, iOS, Windows, macOS).
Final Words: Should You Use Apple AirTags as a Child Tracking Device?
Apple tags are a useful tool for a parent who wants to track their child’s location. They allow you to keep tabs on your child’s whereabouts and can be especially useful if your child is on the go a lot. However, they have a couple of drawbacks, making them less-than-ideal for long-term use, including the short battery life and the fact that Bluetooth signals can be disrupted. So, if you decide to use tags as a child tracking device, make sure you plan to replace the batteries before they’re dead.
While Apple tags are a helpful tool for some parents, there are better options for those who want a more comprehensive solution. A better way to keep tabs on your child’s whereabouts is to install a parental control app on their phone. These apps also allow you to set restrictions and receive reports of their digital activities.
