Parenting Perspective 

Raising a child who is adept at digital boundaries requires clear instruction and consistent modeling. Location sharing may appear to be an act of care among friends, yet it can easily devolve into a mechanism for control, surveillance, or increased risk. The primary objective is to equip your child with a clear, polite script and firm technological boundaries so that they can protect their privacy without sounding secretive or superior. Begin by establishing a core family rule: location data is like a house key; keys are never shared with peers. Prioritise safety first, address feelings next, and provide explanations later. 

Make a Simple Family Policy 

It is beneficial to write down and repeat the family policy often: parents and caregivers may have access to location data for safety, but peers do not. Explain the rationale behind this rule using clear categories: 

• Safety Risks: This includes avoiding potential risks such as stalking, set-ups, or unwanted, unannounced meet-ups. 

• Social Pressure: Location sharing can be used by friends to monitor movement, constantly check up on where your child is, or even test loyalty. 

• Focus and Attention: Constant location pings and notifications can break concentration and disrupt the ability to focus on schoolwork or other activities. 

When the purpose of the policy is clearly articulated as ensuring safety and trust, saying no becomes much easier for the child. 

Teach Short, Repeatable Scripts 

Coach your child to use lines that are polite, clear, and closed. Practise these scripts until they become second nature: 

• ‘I do not share my location with friends. It is a family rule.’ 

• ‘I keep my location private, and I shall respect yours too.’ 

• ‘Text me when you arrive. I will meet you there.’ 

Practise the accompanying tone and body language: a small smile, a steady voice, the phone kept close, and maintaining one step of distance. If they are pushed further, they should repeat the decline once and then change the topic or leave the conversation immediately. 

The strategy for handling pressure should be Deflect → Decline → Distance: 

• Deflect: ‘I am not on share. Just message me when you are there.’ 

• Decline: ‘No. I do not share my location.’ 

• Distance: Mute the thread, step away from the group, or speak to a trusted adult if the pressure continues. Physical movement often ends arguments more effectively than words. 

Put Guardrails on the Device 

Establish firm technological habits to remove the pressure to share in the first place: 

• Ensure ‘Share My Location’ is turned off for all peer contacts by default. 

• Disable location services on social media applications; use the phone’s app permissions, not just in-app toggles. 

• Keep ‘Find My’ or a trusted locator app only for parents and essential family members. 

• If temporary sharing is necessary for an event with adults to present, use a setting that auto-ends the share after a set time. 

• Hide the precise location in posts and stories by default. 

• For teenagers, we agree that there is no location sharing after dark or when they are alone. 

Role-Play Real Pressure 

It is vital to role-play common high-pressure scenarios to build confidence. Practise scenes such as a classmate wanting to track the walk home, a group asking for a live location during a social gathering, or a peer testing loyalty with a phrase like, ‘If you trust me, share it’. 

You should play the persuader, using different tactics such as flattery, guilt, or deadlines. After each round, debrief: discuss which line felt strongest, when they should have exited the conversation earlier, and which trusted adult they should call if the pressure escalated. 

Offer Safe Alternatives 

Teach your child to replace a risky request with a safe, polite plan, ensuring that the friendship remains warm while their privacy remains intact: 

• Meet at the front gate at 3:30. 

• Drop a photo of the meeting point when they get there. 

• Share the event pin, not the home addresses. 

Debrief Without Blame 

If your child accidentally slipped and shared their location, respond with calm repair instead of anger. Ask, ‘Where did the pressure spike?’ or ‘What made you feel like you had to share?’ Then, calmly revoke the access, adjust the settings, and praise the recovery steps they took. Identity is strengthened when the truth is met with mercy and a better plan for the future. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam profoundly treasures privacy, dignity, and respectful boundaries. It is essential to teach our children that a believer protects that which Allah Almighty has entrusted to them (Amanah), and does not invite surveillance or pry into matters which do not concern them. A courteous refusal is therefore not an act of secrecy; it is an act of stewardship (Amanah). 

Guidance from the Noble Quran 

The principle of respecting private space is clearly established in the Quran, extending conceptually to all forms of private access. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Noor (24), Verses 27: 

‘O those of you who are believers, do not enter houses (of other people) except your own homes; unless you have permission from them, (and when you do) say Salaams upon the inhabitants…’ 

This ayah (verse) establishes a principle extending far beyond physical doorways: one must seek explicit consent before crossing any private boundary. Location access constitutes a modern form of ‘entry’. If consent is neither appropriate nor necessary, the boundary must stand firm. Teaching your child this transforms privacy from a mere preference into an act of obedience and wisdom. 

From the Teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 

The Prophetic guidance provides a clear ethical measure for digital life, instructing believers to avoid behaviours that undermine trust and invite suspicion. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 6064, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others’ faults and do not spy…’ 

This Hadith Shareef offers a clear measure for navigating digital interactions. Constantly tracking peers invites suspicion and can easily descend into surveillance or spying. You must encourage your child to base friendships on trust, not on tracking, and to decline any request which opens the door to monitoring or control. For parents, it is imperative to model this same ethic: utilise location only for genuine safety purposes, clearly explain the reasoning, and review settings together so that trust grows stronger than fear. 

When a child links the concept of privacy with Amanah, their refusal becomes calm, brief, and confident. A steady decline, offering a safe alternative, and a peaceful exit honours both friendship and faith. Each instance where they protect their whereabouts for the sake of Allah Almighty, they preserve their dignity, reduce risk, and illuminate a gentler way for others who also wish to maintain respectful and safe social circles.