Should Ride share services allow minors to use them w/o an accompanying adult? (TW in description)

Question

(TW for suicide) 
I saw this on IG and thought it’d be an interesting discussion. 
Obvi the comments got a bit heated under the post but some made a few good points

1. Many teens share the ap with their patents. As a way to get to school, sports, extracurricular activities etc. some parents finding a sense of safety knowing they can track the ride their child is on. 
2. Some feel it’s a recipe for disaster. Child abduction, sexual harassment/abuse, etc. they feel it’s already a risk with adults, so why put their minor at risk. 
What do you think? Should Uber change its policies on minors using their services? 
Bonus;
Would you allow your children to use the service w/o your presence?

Accepted Answer

I could see allowing 16+. We allow them to drive independently and many have jobs at that age. Helps with the catch 22 of having a job to save for a car but not being able to get to the job due to not having a car. But 12 is too young. I teach 12 year olds and they can barely manage to open lockers successfully.

Answer

I don’t think minors should be allowed to use those services. Sure parents can see where they’re going, but only based on where the phone is. If a predator wanted to, it wouldn’t be that difficult for them to take the childs phone.

Answer

Uber and lyft aren’t supposed to pick up minors anyways. 
So I’m gonna go with no

Answer

Helllllllll no. I would never ever allow my child to get in someone’s care they don’t know. I don’t care if it’s an Uber or not. If I couldn’t pick them up or they couldn’t drive, I would find a trusted family member or friend to bring them where they need to be or bring them home. But not in a million years would I let them get into an Uber or lyft. I refuse to get in one without my husband and I’m a grown ass adult.

Answer

I don’t see how a policy would stop that from happening

Answer

Why did she kill herself ...????

Answer

Do regular taxi services or public transportation buses allow for unaccompanied minors? I'm in the country and we don't have services like this so I don't know what "regular" policies are. But just because you can use a phone app instead of standing on a corner waving you arms, I don't necessarily think policies should be different from a regular taxi service. Additionally, it's not Uber's fault she killed herself. She would've found a way to get there one way or another, or decided to use a different method of committing the act. It's not like the Uber driver was abusing the child for months or years on end and encouraging her to kill herself.

Answer

Nope. We teach them to never get in the car with a stranger and then say, ok, take an uber? I don't think so. I wouldn't even use one alone, or in a group to be honest. Hell, my husband was out of town for work and wanted to go into the city and I was nervous about my grown ass husband taking a fucking uber to do that. I have trust issues, so my opinion is quite skewed and I realise that.

Answer

As a driver, i dobt want to be responsible for some other persons kid in my car. And im not putting my kid in an uber car without me. But they can change their policies- obviously parents use the service & don’t mind. I just wont partake.

Answer

I think it should be allowed. Although to be honest I don't even like my SO to use them and I definitely never would, I don't trust people enough. The fact of the matter is though sometimes it's needed

Should Ride share services allow minors to use them w/o an accompanying adult? (TW in description)

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