Tips for Users

04/22/24

9 min

Myths and Truth about Life 360: What Can It See and Show?

The Life 360 app is a tool that helps many people. There are many features available in the application: real-time location sharing, driving reports for parents keeping an eye on their teenage drivers, and more.

The Life 360 app is a tool that helps many people. There are many features available in the application: real-time location sharing, driving reports for parents keeping an eye on their teenage drivers, and more. 

What is Life 360 app used for, though? Well, its purpose is simple: to help families and friends stay connected throughout the day by sharing their locations in real time. However, not all users have a full understanding of what the app can offer them. There are a lot of myths about Life 360 and its features. Now, we are going to dispel them.

pensive man using his smartphone

What Life 360 Can Do

When choosing among various location-tracking opportunities, you might eventually come up with a question: What's Life 360 and why should I opt for this solution in the end? Here is what may define this very app as "one-of-a-kind" and, probably, one of the most reliable tools to select this year.

  • Real-Time Location Sharing: Allows family members to share their location with each other in real-time. The good question is if Life 360 is accurate enough, though.

  • Place Alerts: Users can set up alerts for when family members arrive at or leave specific locations.

  • Driving Reports: Shows driving habits that may be useful for parents of teenagers.

  • SOS Feature: A safety feature that sends out an alert in emergency situations.

What Can Life 360 See?

One of the most common questions users have about the app revolves around privacy, e.g.: can Life 360 see your screen or show someone’s texts? The app's privacy settings offer users some degree of control over what information is shared, but anyway, let us find out what exactly Life 360 can show you and what personal data it can see.

  1. Location Data: The app uses GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular data for real-time location tracking and history.

  2. Driving Data: Life 360 can track speed, braking, and phone usage while driving.

  3. Device Information: The app collects data on the type of device being used, the operating system, battery level, and similar information to optimize its services.

  4. Personal Information: Upon registration, Life 360 collects personal information such as name, email address, and phone number.

  5. Communication Data: Life 360 allows users to communicate through the app, which means it can access the content of these messages.

  6. Emergency Contacts and Health Data: If users opt to share emergency contact information or health-related data (in regions where this feature is available), Life 360 can access this information.

What Life 360 Does Not See

  1. When you use Life 360, can you see texts? The app does not access or track personal data like text messages, phone call logs, or browsing history that are unrelated to the app’s core functionalities of location and safety services.

  2. It also does not have the capability to "see your screen" in terms of accessing or viewing what is on your phone display outside of the Life 360 app itself.

Tips for User Control

You can manage who can see your location and how your information is used. Users can:

  • Choose who to share their location with.

  • Adjust location sharing preferences.

  • Opt-out of certain data collection practices.

How to Manage Who Can See Your Location in Life 360

1. Accessing Privacy Settings

Open the Life 360 app on your smartphone. > Go to the 'Settings' menu (tap on your profile picture or the gear icon).

screenshot of Life360 settings menu

2. Location Sharing Settings

Look for a section labeled ‘Location Sharing,’ ‘Privacy,’ or similar. > Here, you can adjust who can see your location. > You are able to turn location sharing off entirely or select which ‘Circles’ (Life 360's groups of friends or family) can see your location.

screenshot of Life360 privacy settings menu

3. Creating Circles for Specific People

If you want to share your location with specific people, create separate Circles for them. 

Go to the main menu. > Select ‘Circles’. > Choose ‘Create a Circle.’ > Add members with whom you want to share your location.

screenshot of Life360 circles creation

4. How to Understand and Control How Your Information is Used 

  1. Review the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

  2. Check data collection and usage settings.

  3. Manage app permissions.

  4. Set up location-sharing preferences.

  5. Communicate with family members and friends.

  6. Check for updates.

The Limitations of Life 360: What Families Need to Know

It is true that Life 360 is a good family location-sharing app but it is better for users to be aware of its disadvantages and the potential privacy concerns. Some of them may not be immediately apparent to all users. These include:

  • Invasion of Privacy: The constant location tracking and driving reports can feel intrusive, especially for teenagers and young adults who value their independence.

  • Data Security Concerns: In their negative reviews, users sometimes complain that the application collects personal data and can then transfer it to third parties, such as advertisers.

  • Battery Drain: The app's continuous background location tracking can drain the battery life of users' mobile devices. This can be inconvenient and even unsafe in certain situations.

  • Dependence on Digital Monitoring: There is a risk of families becoming overly reliant on digital tracking. This can impact interpersonal trust and communication.

The Best Alternative: Number Tracker

Now you know what Life 360 is used forIf you have problems with Life 360 or you are not satisfied with the fact that you can not see texts on Life 360, try another application, for example, Number Tracker. It is designed with both advanced functionality and user privacy in mind. Unlike Life 360, Number Tracker prioritizes minimal data collection while still offering powerful tracking capabilities. Here is why it stands out:

happy smiling woman using her smartphone
  • Enhanced Privacy Controls: Number Tracker offers robust privacy settings that put users in full control of their data, so that only necessary information is collected and shared.

  • User-Friendly Interface: The app has an intuitive design that makes it easy for users of all ages to use it.

  • Advanced Tracking Technology: Number Tracker employs the latest technology to provide accurate and reliable location tracking.

  • Battery Efficiency: It is optimized for low battery consumption.

  • AI Assistance: The app provides you an opportunity to have an AI helper in your pocket that can assist you at any time. 

  • Reviews and Success Stories: Number Tracker users consistently report higher satisfaction levels and talk about the app's reliability, user-centric design and its respect for personal data. 

How to Make a Switch

Step 1: Download and Install Number Tracker

  1. Visit the app store on your smartphone (Google Play Store for Android devices or Apple App Store for iOS devices).

  2. Search for Number Tracker and select the correct app from the search results.

  3. Download and install the app on your device.

Step 2: Set Up Your Account on Number Tracker

  1. Open Number Tracker after installation.

  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new account. You need to provide some basic information such as your name, email address, and phone number.

  3. Verify your account through an email or SMS verification process.

Step 3: Familiarize Yourself with Number Tracker’s Features

  1. Spend some time exploring Number Tracker to understand its interface and features. 

  2. Look for any setup guides or tutorials within the app or on the Number Tracker website to help you get started.

  3. Adjust any settings to your preference, such as notification settings, privacy options, and location-sharing preferences.

Step 4: Invite Members

  1. Use the invite feature in Number Tracker to send invitations to your friends or family members’ email addresses or phone numbers.

  2. Guide them through the installation and setup process.

Step 5: Turn Off Life 360 and Remove It

  1. Open Life 360 and adjust or turn off location-sharing settings. 

  2. Remove your circles or delete your account, depending on your preference. 

  3. Follow the app’s or website’s instructions for account deletion if you choose to completely remove your information from Life 360.

A Safer World

Life 360 is a really good app that can help families find peace and security. However, it does have some downsides that can frustrate users and force them to look for something better.

A worthy alternative to this application is Number Tracker, which does not leave its users indifferent. You can try it for yourself and see that it is a reliable, accurate, and convenient app for friends and families.


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