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Findmykids

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Findmykids
Developer(s)LETEM LTD
Initial releaseAndroid (June 17, 2015 (2015-06-17)); iOS (April 2015 (2015-04))
Stable release
2.8.80 Android; 2.2.333 iOS
Written inKotlin, Java, Swift, Objective C, PHP, Go, Python
Operating systemiOS 15 and later, Android 6 and later
PlatformiOS and Android
Available in55 languages
TypeLocation-based service
LicenseProprietary software
Websitefindmykids.org

Findmykids is an application for tracking geolocation and movements using a smartphone or a GPS-enabled watch.[1] It is designed to monitor children's movements and supervise their safety.[2][3]

Overview

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The application was developed by LETEM LTD, a company registered in Cyprus, and was released in 2016. The main purpose of the application is to provide parents with real-time information[4] about the location of their children,[5][6][7] as well as notifications related to their movements.[2] The application includes features such as location tracking, geofencing, emergency alerts, and remote audio monitoring.[8]

In 2019, Findmykids was nominated for the Best Mobile App of 2019 by the Best Mobile App Awards. In 2023, the application was integrated with Apple Watch devices.[9] As of 2023, the app has been translated into 55 languages and, according to the developer, has reached around 4 million downloads.[5][6][7]

Features

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  • Location tracking — displays the current location of the child and the history of their movements;[5][6][7]
  • Geofencing — allows setting zones with notifications when the child enters or leaves them ("safe zones");[2][3]
  • Sound signal — the ability to remotely activate a loud sound on the child's device, even if the gadget is in silent mode;[10]
  • Battery monitoring — notifies parents when the battery level of the child's device is low;[11][12][3]
  • Remote audio listening — a feature that allows listening to the surrounding sound around the child's device;[8][3]
  • App usage statistics — provides information about which applications the child is using.[3]

Functioning principle

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The application operates on a client-server architecture and includes two mobile components:

  • Findmykids — the app installed on the parent's device.[13] It is intended for receiving information about the child's location, notifications, and access to safety functions.[1]
  • Pingo by Findmykids — the app installed on the child's device.[13] It collects location data using GPS,[14][5][6][7] Wi-Fi, and mobile networks. The information is transmitted to the server, where it is processed to determine coordinates with an accuracy of approximately 20 to 100 meters.

If there is no internet connection, the app continues to collect data, temporarily storing it and synchronizing once the connection is restored. The use of the application requires the consent of the child and adheres to regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the kidSAFE Seal Program.[15]

Privacy concerns

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Some features of the application, particularly remote audio monitoring, have raised concerns among privacy experts. Such functionalities may be perceived as potential intrusions into personal privacy and could affect the level of trust between parents and children. In addition, studies have pointed out possible vulnerabilities in similar child-tracking apps, leading to concerns about data protection and the risk of unauthorized access.[16][17]

Security measures

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In response to these concerns, the developer states that it has implemented several security measures:

Awards and nominations

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Year Recipient Award Category Notes Result Ref.
2017 Findmykids Google Play Awards Best Android Apps (Innovation App) Won
2019 Findmykids Best Mobile App Awards Best Mobile App of 2019 Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b Bernd W. Wirtz [in German] (29 March 2021). Digital Business and Electronic Commerce. ISBN 978-3030634810. The location-based service Findmykids localizes the mobile phone or GPS smart watch of the child with the accuracy up to 12 meters. Findmykids retrieves the data and sends the current position of the child back to the parents via SMS or the Web
  2. ^ a b c M. AlAbdullah, M.; Seraj, M.; Abdelah, A. (July 2024). Developing Open Areas Towards Introducing A Smart Child-Friendly Environment. Children can be connected to GPS technology through their watches, and parents can download a tracking programme on their mobile phones, such as Find my Kids. This allows parents to monitor their child's movements within a certain range. This technology gives children the freedom to play and move around without feeling limited by their parents, which increases their confidence in exploring and moving
  3. ^ a b c d e Holtmeyer, Michelle. "Ortungs-App: Die 3 besten kostenlosen Handyortungs-Apps im Test". Deinhandy Magazine. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  4. ^ Liberatore, Jader (15 September 2022). "Le app e i gadget «salva mamme» da usare quando i figli sono a scuola". Vanity Fair Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 1 April 2025. Permette di monitorare la posizione del proprio figlio online, per non preoccuparci quando non è con noi o non risponde alle chiamate, se la batteria del telefono è scarica oppure preme il pulsante di SOS. Supporta diversi modelli di orologi GPS per bambini per tracciarli su mappa
  5. ^ a b c d Francis, Gemma (27 April 2023). "Parents horrified as 1 in 5 reveal their child has been approached by a stranger – but would you use a kid tracking app?". The Sun. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d Lumley, Sarah (27 April 2023). "App created to help parents monitor their children's safety from stranger danger". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Finke, Nele (1 July 2022). "Geofencing: 4 Beispiele für Einsatz und Gefahren der Technologie". Utopia.de (in German). Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  8. ^ a b Jones, Anna (8 November 2021). "The parents who track their children". BBC. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  9. ^ Clark, Lindsay (9 February 2023). "Find My Kids app is basically AirTags for your offspring". The Register. Retrieved 25 March 2025. It's called Find My Kids, and this week it announced a new collaboration with Apple Watch. It claims to be the first third-party developer's child safety app approved for integration by Apple on its popular, wearable smart device.
  10. ^ Clark, Lindsay (9 February 2023). "Find My Kids app is basically AirTags for your offspring". The Register. Retrieved 25 March 2025. The Find My Kids app will trigger Critical Notification, which rings a loud signal to tell parents that their child could be in trouble, even if their phone is turned off.
  11. ^ "Ortungs-Apps: So finden Sie Ihr Smartphone wieder". PC Welt (in German). 8 June 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  12. ^ Foscale, Ilaria (9 September 2024). "Ritorno a scuola dei figli: le migliori app pensate per aiutare le mamme" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Wie gut sind Kinder-Tracker-Apps und -Geräte wirklich?". RTL Deutschland (in German). 11 December 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2025. Wenn das Kind schon groß genug für ein eigenes Smartphone ist, sind Tracker-Apps wie "Find My Kids" oder "Kaspersky SafeKids" wohl die einfachste Lösung. Von den Anwendungen gibt es kostenpflichtige sowie kostenfreie Modelle für iOs- und Android-Handys. Sie werden sowohl auf dem Telefon des Elternteils als auch auf dem des Kindes installiert
  14. ^ Sun Lim, Sun (19 December 2019). Transcendent Parenting: Raising Children in the Digital Age. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190088996.
  15. ^ "Pingo by FindMyKids". kidSAFE Seal Program. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  16. ^ Spadafora, Anthony (3 July 2022). "Popular child-tracking apps are actually tracking parents — how to stay safe". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  17. ^ Ali, Suzan; Elgharabawy, Mounir; Duchaussoy, Quentin; Mannan, Mohammad; Youssef, Amr (7 December 2020). Security and Privacy Risks of Parental Control Solutions.
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