A DeKalb parent is thanking Apple AirTags for helping find her child, who was among two kindergarten students who went missing on a school bus on the first day of school this week.
While one parent sees the device, which is designed to track luggage, as a lifesaver, others question its use for tracking children.
Shannon Stoker, the mother of a 6-year-old student at Founders Elementary School in DeKalb, said a school board meeting was underway when she was told her son had not been at school all day.
Stoker told police her son had an AirTag with him, which tracked his location in real time and showed he was still on a school bus.
In response to the incident, the school district said the child had been mistaken for another student and was under supervision throughout the day.
Apple has previously emphasized that AirTags are intended to track devices, not people.
“AirTags are meant to track objects, and they connect to Apple’s smart devices,” said technology expert Juan Guevara.
While the convenience of AirTags is undeniable, experts urge caution and weighing the pros and cons, especially considering the risk of hacking.
“Any technical device can be hacked. It all depends on how secure the password is,” Guevara said.
Experts offer the following tips for those considering using AirTags for their children:
- Battery life: AirTags can last for over a year, and your iPhone will alert you when it’s time for a replacement.
- Geofencing: With the Find My app, you can set up geofencing around places like home or school and receive alerts if your child enters or leaves these areas.
- Respect privacy and know the laws depending on where you live.
In the case of the two missing kindergarteners in DeKalb, the school district issued an apology for what it called “failures on almost every level.”