Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Find My is a solid, no-frills utility that does exactly what it says: helps you find your stuff and keep tabs on family members' whereabouts. It's privacy-respecting, ad-free, and built into iOS, which makes it an easy win for families already in the Apple ecosystem.

But let's be clear—this app has zero entertainment or educational value. It's a map with dots. The real value (or risk) comes from how you use it. For younger kids, it's a straightforward safety tool: "Did you make it to soccer practice?" For teens, it's trickier. The fact that they can disable location sharing is actually a feature, not a bug—it forces you to have real conversations about trust, boundaries, and when checking in is reasonable versus invasive.

Use Find My as a logistics coordinator and emergency backup, not a digital leash. If you find yourself refreshing your teen's location out of anxiety rather than necessity, the problem isn't the app—it's the relationship. Pair it with Screen Time for content limits and clear family agreements about when and why location sharing matters, and you'll be fine.

Age Fit

Best for families with kids roughly 8–16 who have their own Apple devices. Younger kids benefit from the safety net; older teens may prefer more autonomy. Adults use it for logistics and lost-device recovery, not surveillance.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

82

Find My promotes family connection and safety through location sharing, encouraging communication between parents and kids. The app requires consent for location sharing (kids can stop sharing at any time), which models healthy boundaries. It's designed to reduce anxiety about whereabouts rather than enable helicopter parenting, though family conversations about trust and autonomy are essential to keep it healthy.

Imaginative

25

This is a utility app with zero creative or exploratory elements. It's a map with dots showing where people and devices are. There's no storytelling, building, or open-ended play. The Precision Finding feature is mildly interesting from a tech perspective, but it's purely functional—like being impressed by a really good flashlight.

Safe

78

No ads, no third-party tracking, and Apple's privacy-first approach means location data is encrypted and anonymous when using the Find My network. However, the app inherently involves surveillance—even consensual surveillance—which can create family tension if not handled thoughtfully. Kids 13+ can disable location sharing, which is developmentally appropriate but requires clear family agreements. The voluntary nature prevents it from being a pure monitoring tool, but misuse by overly controlling parents is possible.

Enriching

48

Find My can teach responsibility (keeping track of devices), geography awareness (reading maps), and family communication skills (discussing boundaries around location sharing). It provides peace of mind for logistics and safety. But it's primarily a practical tool, not an educational one—kids aren't learning critical thinking or building skills beyond basic device management. The enrichment comes from the conversations it enables, not the app itself.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

No ads, no subscriptions, no creepy third-party tracking—it's Apple-native and privacy-respecting
Helps younger kids build responsibility for keeping track of devices and communicating whereabouts
Genuinely useful for coordinating pickups, confirming safe arrivals, or finding a lost phone in the couch cushions
Requires consent for location sharing (teens can disable it), which creates natural opportunities for conversations about trust and boundaries
Precision Finding for AirTags is legitimately cool tech if your kid keeps losing their backpack

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What to Watch For

Location sharing is voluntary—kids 13+ can turn it off, so this only works if your family has clear agreements and mutual trust
Can veer into helicopter parenting territory fast; resist the urge to check your teen's location every five minutes
Doesn't offer granular geofencing alerts or content monitoring—if you want robust parental controls, you'll need Screen Time or a third-party app
The app itself teaches nothing and entertains no one—it's a tool, not a learning experience

Conversation Starters

""When do you think it's okay for me to check where you are, and when would that feel like I don't trust you?""
""Let's set up location sharing together—what are your questions or concerns about it?""
""If you ever feel unsafe and need help, how could Find My be useful? What would you want me to do?""
""How do you feel about being able to see where I am too? Does that seem fair?""
""What would make you want to turn off location sharing, and how should we handle that as a family?""

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