Key Takeaways

No selling point is as powerful as peace of mind. It’s why so many modern dating platforms have shifted their focus from convenience to safety. And location-sharing apps, like Life360, Find My, and even Google Maps are at the crux of trust, vulnerability, and peace of mind — and more couples depend on them than one may expect. 

Life360 surveyed 1,000 adults about the impact location-sharing apps have on their love lives, and made an unexpected discovery: “95% of American adults in relationships use some form of location-sharing tech,” Life360 reported. 

And most couples don’t use Life360 just once. Sixty-four percent of couples said they plan to make location-sharing tech a permanent part of their relationship. Twenty-one percent of respondents are so pro location-sharing that they consider it to be a relationship dealbreaker. 

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Location-sharing can, in fact, fan the flames of jealousy and distrust. But 73% of couples told Life360 that location-sharing actually increases trust in their relationship, and 53% called it “the secret to keeping our relationship strong.” 

Some couples use location-sharing tech to build intimacy, not just trust and safety. Platforms that understand the impact of location-sharing on user behavior are best positioned to capitalize on it — and to meet the needs of the modern dater. 

Safety Impacts The Growth of Location-Sharing Apps

Safety is the No. 1 reason why people use location-sharing apps, and we’re not only talking about parents and children. In fact, more than 12 million Life360 users are couples without children. 

Some people use location-sharing apps to keep tabs on their partner — men are more likely to use it for this reason, according to Life360 — but 90% of couples (and more women than men) use it because it makes them feel more reassured about their partner’s safety. 

Fifty-one percent of respondents use location-sharing apps to check up on their partner’s well-being while on the road, during bad weather, or on late nights. 

In fact, 79% of respondents specifically said that location-sharing gives them peace of mind when their partner is out late at night. However, it’s impossible to know how much of this peace of mind stems from knowing their partner is safe and knowing why, for example, they’re spending so much time away from home. 

Regardless, the increased perception of safety impacts both the watcher and the watched: Fewer late nights and stress-induced phone calls had a positive effect on the physical well-being of 50% of respondents, and 45% reported improved mental health. 

People Are Willing to Pay for Peace of Mind

Yes, people invest in location-sharing tech for safety reasons. But just as compelling is the other by-product of location-sharing: information — about your partner’s whereabouts, about their day-to-day routine, and about their trustworthiness. 

People want peace of mind and private information about their spouse, and they’re willing to pay for it. 

The promise of peace of mind, along with good old-fashioned intel into loved ones’ lives, is why the Global Family Tracking App market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.4% by 2033. 

Market.US also projects that the Global Family Tracking App market’s worth will skyrocket to more than USD $1.9 billion in 2033 from USD $356 million in 2023. This growth isn’t entirely due to couples — parents keeping tabs on their children is the real moneymaker — but they play an undeniable role in the market’s growth. 

For couples who seek the kind of peace of mind that comes from knowing their partner is safe (and being truthful), products like Life360 are priceless. 

A Modern Expression of Trust for Long-Distance Couples

Countless dating apps focus on bringing people together, but so few focus on keeping couples together when they’re apart. The niche group of long-distance daters would benefit from the trust, vulnerability, and intimacy generated by location-sharing tech. 

There’s a reason why 60% of Life360 respondents said that sharing their location with their partner is akin to making a relationship “official”: It’s the ultimate expression of trust, facilitating connection and bonding for 74% of users.

And 66% of couples told Life360 that seeing their partner’s real-time location on the app makes them feel closer to their partner, even when they’re miles apart. 

Location-sharing is a vital tether for long-distance couples, with over half of respondents telling Life360 that location-sharing is the key to making long-distance relationships succeed. 

For all the good, bad, and ugly that comes along with location-sharing tech, one particular kind of couple is focusing solely on the good: 34% of long-distance couples say their relationship may not have succeeded without the use of a location-sharing app.