The parent’s guide to location sharing and healthy digital boundaries
Helping children navigate healthy digital relationships and online consent.
Digital connection is now part of everyday family life and for many Australian households, that includes location sharing. Whether it’s to know your tween got home safely from school or to coordinate busy weekends, sharing your location can offer real peace of mind. But just like social media, screen time and group chats, it’s important that this kind of tech comes with some ground rules.
Family psychologist and Life360 partner Collett Smart says it’s time for a new kind of “talk”, one that helps kids understand the role of digital tools like location sharing in a healthy relationship.
“When introduced with consent and ongoing conversations, location sharing can be a supportive parenting tool,” says Collett. “But it’s also something we need to manage with care because it’s not just about knowing where your kids are, it’s about teaching them to make thoughtful decisions about how they use technology in all relationships.”
Here, Collett shares three essential tips to help parents guide this conversation, and lay the foundations for respectful digital habits that will support children for life.
Expert tips for healthy digital habits
1. Explain the why behind location sharing
Our kids won’t always agree with every rule but they’re far more likely to understand and respect it if they know where it’s coming from. Instead of introducing location sharing as a non-negotiable, start with a calm conversation about why it matters to you.
Talk about how the tool works, when it might be useful, and what the benefits are, not just for you, but for them too. For example, it can be helpful for checking if Mum is on her way to school pick-up, or letting Dad know they arrived safely at their friend’s house.
“Helping your child understand the purpose of location sharing gives them ownership over the decision and helps them see it as a tool for connection, not control,” says Collett.
This is also a great opportunity to reinforce the values you want them to carry into all relationships, like mutual respect, openness and trust, both online and in real life.
2. Talk about meaningful consent
Consent is a key concept in digital safety, and location sharing is no exception. Teach your child that sharing their location should always be a choice, and never something someone else demands of them.
“Whether it’s a friend, family member or future partner, no one should feel pressured to share their location. That’s not trust, that’s control,” says Collett.
Make sure your child knows they have the right to say no, change their mind or revoke permission at any time and that those boundaries should always be respected.
3. Set healthy boundaries together
Location sharing works best when it’s a two-way conversation. Instead of setting strict rules, try working together to create shared guidelines that feel fair and supportive.
For example, you might agree to turn on location sharing for certain scenarios, like starting high school, travelling alone for the first time or going to a concert. You can also agree to revisit the plan regularly, as your child’s needs and confidence grow.
“Boundary setting is an important life skill, and it’s something we can help kids practise early,” says Collett. “By talking about what feels comfortable, and working through scenarios where they may need to push back, we’re helping them build digital resilience.”
It might not be the kind of ‘birds and the bees’ talk we grew up with, but this new version of ‘the talk’ about digital respect, privacy and safety is just as essential. Open, honest and age-appropriate conversations now can help raise confident, considerate kids who know how to look after themselves and others in a digital world.
