AAPi President Sahra O'Doherty featured in a front-page story in The Age on Monday about parents using tracking apps to monitor their teenagers and young adult children. Her comments led to widespread media coverage, with interviews on the subject on ABC radio Melbourne, 3AW, Channel 10 news in every state and an extended interview on The Project.
Ms O'Doherty detailed how the practice can be "bad for the mental health of both sides”.
"The advent of what many view as harmless digital oversight is concerning safety and mental health experts who say being tracked is now such a common feature of childhood that it could make monitoring seem routine in later, adult relationships," the article reads.
"I completely understand that parents are going to be worried about their children, and wanting to protect their kids,” Ms O’Doherty said.
However, Ms O’Doherty and other mental health practitioners say it can make young people withdraw and parents obsessive.
"They say the relationship and developmental risks can outweigh the perceived safety benefits, even though many Gen Zs welcome location sharing as a safety net among friends who might be, say, online dating," the article said.
“With parents, it’s often driven by a sense of stress, or fear or anxiety … and repetitive checking of these apps really fuels that anxiety,” said Ms O’Doherty.
“The obsessive behaviour some parents get into is going to be harmful to them.”
AAPi Director Carly Dober also spoke on the topic with 7 News Queensland and 2SM Radio.