My SO can just call me, and they do about every other day when I'm inevitably stuck in traffic due to some accident during rush hour.

My SO and I call each other very frequently. It takes 10s to call and ask me if I'm stuck in traffic or something. Maybe it takes 5 to check an app, but saving a few seconds isn't worth the unlikely but possible downsides.

Where's the upside vs alternatives that don't have those extra issues?

Know when they come home or if they are stuck in traffic

Look at maps and see how traffic is on their route if they're late

“oh you are still in the store can you get me …”

Tell each other when you are going to the store beforehand and ask if you need anything.

security if they get kidnapped

Very unlikely to happen in the first place and competent kidnappers would toss their phone right away anyway.

-They'll be here when they be here

-The tracker is also a communicator. "Hey are you still at the store? Good can you grab.." doesn't add that much time to that convo

-

If everyone consents and you trust the service, I guess that's fine.

I just personally don't see the benefit. My area has a really low crime rate, my kids don't have phones and don't go anywhere on their own anyway (they hang out w/ neighbors or we drive whem somewhere), and my SO and I just go between work and home and rarely anywhere else. If we have a unique schedule, we let each other know.

The only time I think I'd want it is if I'm doing something potentially risky, like going on a hike on my own, which I almost never do. That's pretty much it.

When my kids get phones, I plan to follow the same policy. If they go somewhere, they need to let us know where they're going, who a backup contact is (i.e. if they lose their phone or it dies), and when they'll be home. I don't need to know exactly where they are if I trust them to inform me if plans change.