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Parents always watching me[19] through tracking app while in college (by Sparky)

 Sparky (0)  (29 / M-F / Massachusetts)
8-Feb-19 1:40 pm
Parents always watching me[19] through tracking app while in college

So some time ago my mom made me download the Find my Friends app so she could watch me in case some accident were to happen. It always bothered me, knowing she knew where I was at all times and she would frequently text me when she found it funny how my avatar would be a few blocks down the road from my high school(it's not the most accurate at times). I never went out much as I mostly stayed at home on the Internet, but when I would, she would always ask where I was if friends and I were driving around. My dad told me he would only look in the case of an actual emergency. I get it, they are overprotective and aren't doing it maliciously.
In the fall, I moved to college, which is 200 miles from my home. I finally felt like I wouldn't be suffocated by their endless questions of what I'm doing at all times. It didn't end.
Things were fine for awhile as I figured out my schedule for the evenings. I'd study in my room for awhile, then go to my boyfriend's room to hang out with friends, then go back to my room to sleep. My room was in the middle of the building, and my boyfriend's was at the very end of it, far enough apart to show a difference in locations on the app. If I were to spend more time in my room than usual, I would get a text from my mom, "why are you still in your room?". A few times I'd go to his room, then down to the cafe to get a late night snack, which was a few floors below my room. Shortly after arriving, I got a text "are you going to bed already?". Sometimes I go to a student organization for music, which was in a building just off campus. A few minutes after getting to the building, my mom texted me "where are you? How did you get there?". Because she asks me so shortly after I get anywhere, I know she's checking it often.
I'm getting really tired of the constant monitoring of my location. A few weeks ago, I just shut it off completely. Both of my parents got a notification that I stopped sharing my location and texted me almost immediately to turn it back on or else they will cancel my cell phone plan. I turned it back on. My dad texted me a couple days later saying he only has the app in case I were to get into a car accident or abducted they could find me(I get it, but I'm a four hour drive from home). He says my mom has it for the same reason, but watches it more to start conversation. Both of my parents, especially my mom, are struggling with me being gone, I'm an only child. I told him I felt suffocated and I need space.
A few days later, I tried something else after the same questions on my location persisted. I changed the device that is being located by the app, an old phone of mine that isn't in use anymore. It stopped tracking me, and says "location unavailable" which is what pops up when the internet connection of a location isn't great.
My parents have been telling me the past few days to enable it again so they can continue watching me, I keep telling them the Internet has been screwy lately.. I know they only do it because they miss me and are overly worried about an accident. Am I being ridiculous and should just turn it back on? I still rely on them for finances and my cell phone, do they have a right to watch me? What should I do?

tl;dr: My parents are using a tracking app to watch my location too closely when I am 200 miles from home, and won't let me turn it off.
EDIT: I’ve read every reply, and I’d like to thank everyone for adding their own advice. I realized I was kind of stupid to think they’d actually turn off my phone now. I think I now have a stronger argument for when this blows up again. Thank you everyone


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