The new feature allows parents and guardians to view their teen’s Uber ride in real time in nine U.S. markets
NEED TO KNOW
- Uber is rolling out a live video feature that lets parents and guardians view teen riders during active trips
- The feature is currently available in nine U.S. markets and is expected to expand nationwide in the coming weeks
- Uber says the livestream is encrypted, and recordings are automatically deleted after 14 days unless tied to a safety report
Uber is rolling out a live video feature that allows parents and guardians to view their teen’s ride in real time.
The company announced the feature on Tuesday, Aug. 25, saying live video streaming is currently available in nine U.S. markets and will expand nationwide in the coming weeks.
The feature is part of Uber’s teen accounts, which connect a teen’s account with a parent or guardian. The accounts allow teens to request rides while keeping the linked adult connected to their trips, according to the company.
When live video is available, a parent or guardian receives a notification after the teen’s trip begins. They can then open the Uber app to view a livestream from the driver’s smartphone’s front-facing camera, the company said.
Credit: Uber
“Just in time for back-to-school! We’re rolling out live video streaming for teen rides, a new feature that gives parents a way to check in on their teen’s trip in real time,” Uber wrote on X.
The teen and driver are both notified when the livestream is being viewed. The video automatically ends when the trip is complete, according to Uber.
Uber said the livestreams are encrypted and can only be viewed during an active trip by the teen’s linked guardian. The company also told PEOPLE that it cannot access the live video in real time.
The encrypted recording is stored on Uber’s server. The company also said Uber can access the decryption key only when investigating a reported safety incident, while the driver, guardian and teen cannot access the recording.
Uber said recordings are automatically deleted after 14 days unless they are connected to a safety report.
The feature is only available when a driver has activated Uber’s Record My Ride feature and enabled live streaming, according to information Uber provided to Mashable. Drivers can turn off live video on their accounts at any time, the outlet reported.
Credit: Uber
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Uber also told Mashable that drivers need a front-facing camera and microphone to use the feature. If live streaming is interrupted because of an unstable connection or technical issue, the parent will be notified, according to the outlet.
The feature is currently available in Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, Portland, Ore., San Antonio, Cleveland, Rhode Island and El Paso. Uber said it plans to expand live video to additional U.S. markets in the coming weeks.
The new feature joins other functions available through teen accounts, including trip tracking, PIN verification and audio recording, according to Uber.
Uber launched teen accounts in 2023. The program has since expanded to more than 50 countries, and families have completed tens of millions of trips through teen accounts since the accounts were introduced, according to the company.
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