Uber launches live video streaming for teen rides, letting parents watch trips in real time
As families settle into new back-to-school routines, Uber is introducing a new feature aimed at giving parents more visibility when their teens are on the road.
Starting Aug. 25, Uber is rolling out live video streaming for Uber teen accounts, allowing a linked parent or guardian to view a teen's ride in real time through the front-facing camera on the driver's phone.
The feature is designed to give parents another way to check in on teens who may be using Uber to get to and from school, sports, activities or other destinations on their own.
"Parents consistently tell us they want to feel connected and informed when their teens are on the go," Ashu Manohar, director of product management at Uber, told "Good Morning America."
Manohar said the new feature builds on safety tools already available for teen accounts, including live trip tracking, PIN verification and audio recording.
"It's another way we're helping parents feel confident while giving teens the independence to get where they need to be," Manohar said.
How Uber's live video feature works
When live video is available, the parent or guardian linked to the teen's account will receive a push notification after the trip begins. The guardian can tap the notification to begin watching the ride from within the Uber app.
Through the driver's front-facing smartphone camera, the parent or guardian can see both the teen and driver inside the vehicle in real time, according to Uber.
Eligible drivers will receive onboarding about the feature, including recommendations for positioning their phones. Drivers can also preview the camera angle when they are not on a trip through the Safety Toolkit in the Uber app.
Both the teen and driver are notified if a guardian begins watching the live stream.
"If a guardian chooses to view the live video of the trip, the driver is notified in the app," Manohar told "GMA," adding that the notification does not interrupt the driver's GPS or other Uber notifications.
The video stream automatically ends when the trip is completed.
What happens to the video after the ride?
The new feature also raises questions about what happens to the video during and after a teen's ride.
Uber said the live stream is encrypted and can only be viewed in real time by the teen's linked guardian. According to the company, Uber itself cannot access the live video while the trip is underway.
After the ride ends, the recording remains encrypted and cannot be accessed by the driver, guardian or teen.
However, Uber confirmed to "GMA" that the encrypted video file is stored on its servers for a limited period of time.
"The encrypted video file is stored on Uber's server, and Uber may only access the decryption key to investigate a safety incident," Manohar said.
Uber said it automatically deletes recordings after 14 days unless they are connected to a safety report. If a file is submitted as part of a safety-related report, the company said it will retain it in accordance with its data retention policies.
Where is Uber live video available?
Live video streaming will initially be available in nine U.S. markets: Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, Portland, San Antonio, Cleveland, Rhode Island and El Paso.
Uber said it plans to expand the feature nationwide over the coming weeks.
Uber launched teen accounts in 2023 after receiving feedback from families and drivers. The accounts allow teens to request their own rides while remaining connected to a parent or guardian's account.
The service is now available in more than 50 countries, according to Uber, and teen account users have completed tens of millions of trips worldwide since the program launched.
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