October 22, 2009, was the worst day ever for Somer Thompson’s parents. It was on that day when authorities found Thompson’s body in a landfill in southeast Georgia.
Just days later on October 23rd, the body of nine-year-old Elizabeth Olten’s body was found in a field near St. Martin’s, Mossuri. Prosecutors say she was killed by a 15-year-old who knew her.
In both of these tragic cases the thing law enforcement and parents wanted to know immediately was the location of the children.
Now several companies throughout the United States are selling GPS devices designed to be put onto children that can track them wherever they go.
Brickhousesecurity is just one company that is offering a GPS kids tracking device. These devices range in price from $79.99 to $149. After purchasing the device their is usually a monthly fee which can run between ten dollars and fifteen dollars. These devices can be put on a child or even on their vehicle. Some of the lower priced GPS devices will not work inside a building. If you would like to buy a GPS device that works inside a building you can get one but they would cost around $379. Within the past few weeks Best Buy has released a product that can track children.
GPS tracking devices are nothing new. Lojack is a tool that can be put on vehicles that can track the vehicle. If a vehicle is stolen police can immediately track a car and it’s whereabouts.
The tracking devices for children can be monitored either from a computer or from your PDA. Parents can set text alerts to tell them when the GPS device moves out of a certain area or is turned off.
Has technology gone too far? Should parents actually be using technology to track their children? Blogs have been erupting with parents and experts pointing out the positives and negatives of the GPS tracking device.
According to the Washington Post reader feedback page opinions are varied on the children GPS tracking devices. Some people wrote that these devices are an invasion of privacy and can not prevent a crime from taking place is someone is dedicated on committing a crime. Other people say that given the child predators on the loose the GPS tracking device is a great idea.
Experts say the technology may not hurt but they say the best thing to do is to be a good parent. Teach your children right from wrong.
SOURCES:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2009/10/want_to_know_where_the_kids_ar.html
http://www.brickhousesecurity.com
http://www.bestbuy.com
http://www.lojack.com/
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/somer-thompson-killer-serial-child-predator/story?id=8915179
http://news.aol.com/article/missing-missouri-girl-elizabeth-olten/734132
