When considering the ask for recommendations by Fox Business News, Atlanta Bureau regarding Uber’s new feature allowing minors between the ages of 13-17 to ride unaccompanied by an adult, our reaction was to recommend a cautionary approach.
Most caregivers struggle to meet the transportation needs of children at some point, like when a child misses the school bus. But I am skeptical about this app’s balance in providing transportation to children while ensuring their safety.
Reading further on the safety features Uber has established, the company has tried to elevate the safety of minors while in the company of the driver as they are en route to their destination.
The app requires parental permission to set up the teen account, share route status with a caregiver, offers the availability of audio recording during the trip, and will only take youth to locations in the same city.
Uber also requires all drivers to complete a background check, which at the surface level is an appropriate protocol, but how far back and how deep do they search on the driver’s known address history? Even then, many things of concern would not be reflected in a criminal background check. Following best practices in child protection, we recommend Uber screen drivers by requiring references and asking the reference, “Is there anything that would concern you knowing the applicant would have direct access to children?”
There are also potential concerns about the events surrounding the Uber trip.
- Youth can request rides without parental consent for each trip. Parental permission is blanketed across the use of the app once the parent has approved the app for the youth during the account registration.
- Youth may have other youth passengers in the car with them. Those youth are also required to have parental permission to take an Uber without an adult, but the consent is assumed not enforced.
- Child predators seek one-on-one access to children. Uber drivers who seek additional contact information or try to connect with the youth beyond the trip should be cause for alarm and immediately reported to Uber.
Even when transportation plans are in place, things happen! Ideally, a trusted parent, friend, or neighbor can step in, but sometimes the need arises to call on alternative transportation, such as Uber. We advise parents to proceed cautiously and have established safety boundaries and practices with youth. These can include:
- Using the audio recording option or having a trusted adult stay on the phone with the youth while they are in the Uber
- An understanding of when requesting Uber trips is allowable and if prior parental permission is needed
- Having rules about who can be in the car with them
- A boundary that the youth should never give out personal information or contact information to the Uber driver
Ultimately, it is the responsibility of adults to protect our children. This starts with educating all adults on how to be vigilant and recognize, prevent, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse and any other form of child abuse or neglect.
Having consistent age-appropriate conversations with our children about healthy touch and safety concepts empowers them to guard against potential abuse no matter who the person is or the level of authority over the child.
Training to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation is available to every parent, grandparent, and community member; any youth-serving company, including Uber, should require it. This guides companies in improving policies and procedures, clarifying accountability measures for staff on how to report violations, and transparency regarding violations of policies and how these will be thoroughly investigated.
We all have a role to play in protecting our children. Please learn more and share your knowledge and resources within your circle of influence. Become a prevention ambassador for Georgia’s children by attending prevention training; learn more here.
Jennifer Stein serves as the Executive Director for Prevent Child Abuse Georgia. She can be reached at [email protected]. PCA Georgia is housed at Georgia State University and is a vital unit of the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development in the School of Public Health.