Kids wanting to stay out later? Family location-sharing could be the answer. As lighter spring evenings approach, UK parents are rethinking curfews – but growing concerns about safety are making these decisions more complex. Negative stories on social media and in the news have left parents more worried about their children’s whereabouts after school than they were a year ago. Rather than restricting freedom, families are increasingly turning to location-sharing technology to strike the right balance – allowing kids more independence while giving parents much-needed peace of mind.

New research* from Life360, the family connection and safety app, reveals that 46% of London parents of 11 to 17-year-olds say they’d feel comfortable relaxing rules and curfews if their child was using location-sharing technology, with kids increasingly advocating for apps like Life360 as a way to prove their responsibility and gain independence. In fact, a recent member poll** found that more than one fifth of UK parents who use Life360 were encouraged to join by their own children – with teens recognising that real-time location-sharing can help build trust and extend their time out with friends.

As parents navigate curfew rules, 69% of London parents use or have used location-sharing tech like Life360, and of those who do, more than half say it provides peace of mind (55%), reduces stress about their children’s whereabouts (52%), and helps them find them if something goes wrong (57%).

Lighter Evenings, Later Curfews
While headlines may stoke parental fears, the data shows they are open to flexibility when they have the right tools. Almost half of London parents say they would relax rules as spring evenings get lighter (47%), with two-thirds extending curfews by up to two extra hours (40%). London parents are also more likely to extend curfews during school summer holidays (59%), half-term breaks (53%), and on Friday and Saturday nights during term time (44%). More widely, London parents also relax rules when their child gets a mobile phone (35%), is out in a big group (34%) and moves up to secondary school (36%).

The Curfew Curve: What Time Do UK Parents Say ‘Be Home By’?
For the first time, the data reveals the collective view of UK parents on acceptable curfews when it gets dark at 6pm on a school night:

11 years old: National average: 17:40, parents in London: 17:25
12 years old: National average: 17:55, parents in London: 17:40
13 years old: National average: 18:25, parents in London: 17:55
14 years old: National average: 18:50, parents in London: 18:25
15 years old: National average: 19:20, parents in London: 18:50
16 years old: National average: 20:05, parents in London: 19:30
17 years old: National average: 20:40, parents in London: 20:00
Dads tend to allow later curfews than mums, and all parents think boys can stay out later than girls. The most relaxed parents when it comes to setting curfews are those from Glasgow, Liverpool, and Sheffield, while the strictest are in London, Birmingham, and Brighton.

Kids aged 13 are most likely to test curfews set by parents and, overall, boys are more likely to than girls. Regionally, children in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Plymouth are the most likely to break curfews, compared to those in Bristol, Belfast and Nottingham who are least likely to.

Balancing Safety and Independence
While London parents feel the pressure of setting curfews – 69% say it’s more stressful now than for previous generations – they also recognise the importance of giving their children freedom. The biggest factors influencing curfew decisions include their child’s maturity (90%), how far from home they are going (88%), who they are with (86%), their recent behaviour (84%), and the time of year (e.g. when it gets light or dark) (84%).

As families look for ways to build trust and encourage kids’ responsibility, many are turning to location-sharing tech as a solution. 84% of UK parents who use Life360 say the app provides them with peace of mind, and 74% say it reduces stress about kids’ whereabouts.

Virginia Offiah, a Mum of two teens from London, said: “As a parent I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting my children go out without Life360 – it’s been part of our family’s lives since our eldest started gaining his independence. With the app we are always connected and it gives me peace of mind whilst giving them freedom as they grow up. Curfews can vary depending on where they’re going and what they’re doing, but location-sharing means I’m far more confident as a parent when they are out and about without me. They understand that it’s a tool our family uses for everyone’s safety, and it’s even helped us track down lost phones before! I can’t imagine life without it, it’s an absolute blessing!”

With the days soon getting longer, families across the UK are finding new ways to make trust a two-way street – helping kids enjoy more time out independently while keeping parents in the loop.