Halloween smartphone safety apps to help parents
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NORTH JACKSON, Tenn. — With Halloween around the corner parents have several fears for their trick-or-treaters. Halloween is a time that kids look forward to all year and a time many parents can dread as they try to keep track of their little ones. Thanks to technology that job is now a little easier if you have a smartphone. Local tech expert Jeremiah Coggins sells smart phones for a living and knows how to make them work for you especially at Halloween. “Trick or Tracker is a great application parents can set up zones,” Coggins said. Coggins said a similar app Life 360 can keep you in close contact with your kids. “Life 360 is one where it allows you to track and keep up with your kids it also allows for them to send you distress messages,” he said. Many parents admitted not being aware of these types of apps, but said they liked the idea. “I think that would be awesome because my daughter’s getting ready to go into the teenage years,” said Mark Flemming. “She may think it’s being a helicopter dad or whatever, but I want to know where she’s at all the time.” Adrienne Roden said she already uses a tracking app for her daughter. “Oh it makes me feel 100 percent safe because my daughter she’s 16-years-old and I love knowing where she’s at at all times.” Coggins said Kids ID is another one that can help parents should the unthinkable happen. “Parents can load up a picture of their child, profile, blood type, allergies, things like that and if something happens, they can load it directly to the law enforcement database,” Coggins said. Roden said in addition to her tracking app she’ll be looking to add Kids ID. “That’s awesome because I actually have a child that has a lot allergies so that works out great,” Roden said. Coggins said apps like these are made to make life easier for parents year-round. “It allows them to have a safer set of mind. It’s much easier to keep up with your kids,” Coggins said. On average, Coggins sees children getting smartphones around eight or nine years old. He said if parents have questions about these types of apps they can contact their cellphone provider.
