Finding the exact balance between privacy and security is a challenge every user must face. In general, mobile devices tend to share more information than we would like, but there are situations where that can work in our favor, such as an emergency. If you think you need additional protection and want to count on the support of friends and family, Google offers you an app called Trusted Contacts.
Why you might need it
A severe storm, a general power outage, delays in public transport, our children coming home a bit "too" late... there are plenty of reasons to worry. The world can be a real meat grinder when it wants to be, and misfortunes strike at the least expected moment. Common sense is our main resource, but sometimes that is not enough. Many people need a guarantee, a small confirmation that everything is okay. The problem is when the search for that guarantee becomes too insistent. That leads to complaints, heated exchanges, and a silence that doesn't help at all. Another possibility is that you are the one who wants to give that guarantee, letting someone you trust know that you are fine. For both cases, Google's people have a proposal: Trusted Contacts.
How Trusted Contacts works
Trusted Contacts works essentially with your smartphone's GPS. You can add friends and family as "trusted contacts", who in turn will have the option to request your current location. If everything is in order, you simply decline the request, but if something bad happens or you can't respond, the app will share your last recorded location automatically, which works even when the phone is turned off, out of battery, or outside coverage. Alternatively, Trusted Contacts enables proactive reporting of your location, your device's activity status, and if necessary, permanent information thanks to its integration with Google Maps.
Availability
Now, Trusted Contacts is just an additional layer of protection, or a less intrusive shortcut when compared to a call or a text message. The app is free, and has versions for iOS and Android, although in Apple's case it competes with the very popular Find My Friends.
