Larry Magid: Apps Track Trick-Or-Treaters
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – There are apps for everything these days and for Halloween, there is one that's perfect for parents worried about the whereabouts of their kids.
Track n Treat allows children to send a link of their location, by phone number or email, to their parents, who can track their whereabouts by web browser. The app is free for iPhone and automatically expires after four hours.
Larry Magid: App Tracks Trick-Or-Treaters
The fact that the app times out is an important part for those concerned about safety.
One of the dangers of this type of technology is that if there is a tracking product that doesn't time out, it could lead to someone you don't want tracking you. For example, someone in an abusive relationship could have their phone taken by the person abusing them, and that person could program the phone to be tracked.
For that reason, Glymspe, the parent company of the Track n Treat app, puts a safeguard into all of their tracking products, not just those involving children.
Some of the apps also provide information on when kids venture outside of designated safe areas, by sending alerts to parents.
You can hear Larry Magid's Tech Report Monday through Friday at 3:50pm on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM.
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