Verizon has reintroduced its family-tracking app, now called Verizon Family, with new and enhanced features for user safety and parental control. One of the most notable updates is the Safe Walk SOS feature, allowing users to share their real-time location with emergency contacts and send notifications when they’ve arrived safely. This feature also includes a silent SOS button, enabling users to discreetly alert their contacts if they require help, enhancing the app's emergency response utility.
Verizon Family replaces the older Verizon Smart Family service, which launched in 2019. This new version retains key features such as tracking family members' locations, monitoring phone usage, and setting screen time limits. Additionally, parents can view call and text activity of their children (without viewing the actual messages), track driving behaviors, and set location alerts. Although similar safety and parental control features are available on iPhones and Android devices, Verizon Family centralizes these functions into one app for added convenience.
For users with a standard postpaid Verizon account, the app is available at no extra cost. However, a premium version at $14.99 per month provides additional features, including multiple location alerts, expanded parental controls, and access to roadside assistance. This tier is targeted at families seeking more extensive safety and tracking options beyond basic monitoring.
Existing subscribers to Verizon's Smart Family service, previously priced at $4.99 per month, can continue using it, although Verizon has stopped accepting new users for the older service. The redesigned Verizon Family app also integrates with other Verizon products, such as the Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure, a GPS-enabled smartwatch tailored for kids, enhancing connectivity and safety across Verizon’s suite of family-oriented devices. This update signifies Verizon’s commitment to providing comprehensive family safety tools in a centralized, user-friendly app, catering to the increasing demand for family connectivity and security.
For more information, visit Verizon's website.
Source: TheVerge
