Youth Alarming Experts: Nearly 1 in 5 Young Australians Normalize Digital Tracking in Relationships
New eSafety Research Reveals Dangerous Shift in Relationship Boundaries Among Gen Z
The concerning normalization of digital surveillance among young adults is raising red flags for experts battling the tech-facilitated coercive control crisis. According to groundbreaking new research released today by Australia's eSafety Commissioner, nearly one in five young Australians (18.6%) believe it's reasonable to track their romantic partner's location at all times—a finding that experts warn could be fueling the next generation of domestic abuse.
Key Takeaways:
Young adults (18-24) are significantly more likely than older generations to view constant location tracking as normal in relationships
Experts warn that family tracking apps may be inadvertently grooming children to accept surveillance as a form of care
The normalization of digital monitoring correlates with increased risk of domestic violence and potentially lethal outcomes
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Almost one in five young adults think it's reasonable to expect to track a romantic partner whenever they want, according to the comprehensive eSafety research that surveyed more than 2,000 Australians aged 18 to 75+.
The findings reveal a troubling generational gap: while 13.6% of all participants agreed that expecting constant partner tracking was reasonable, this figure jumped dramatically to 18.6% among 18-24 year-olds.
"There's something uniquely concerning about these results," said eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. "Young people have become so accustomed to a certain level of online tracking and monitoring by family and friends that it wouldn't seem strange to expect similar digital access in a romantic relationship."
The timing of this research coincides with Australia's nationwide efforts to combat intimate partner violence, with tech-facilitated abuse increasingly recognized as a precursor to physical violence. "People who use coercive control in a relationship are more likely to use physical violence against their partner and any children involved. There's also a higher risk of lethal violence," Inman Grant explained.
"It isn't an exaggeration to say preventing tech-based coercive control, and the attitudes that condone it, can save lives," she added.
The research points to popular family tracking apps as potentially problematic, suggesting they may inadvertently normalize surveillance behaviors that can later manifest in romantic relationships. Meta and Apple, whose platforms host many of these tracking applications, have yet to comment on the research findings.
Experts are now calling for more nuanced conversations about digital boundaries, particularly around popular apps that allow parents to monitor children's locations. "If you decide to download a location-sharing app onto your child's device, have a conversation about why and when their location will be shared with you, and how the app works. We want to build children's understanding of where and how information about them exists online and who else can access it," advises Inman Grant.
The eSafety Commission has released a comprehensive guide for parents and educators, offering free webinars throughout May and August 2025 to help adults recognize warning signs and support young people experiencing tech-based coercive control.
Have you noticed changes in how location tracking is discussed among different generations? What boundaries do you think are appropriate when it comes to digital privacy in relationships?
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