Worried about where your kids are? This new app promises to keep parents in the loop

Igbo is coming to a phone on you (if you want.)

The acronym for “It’s Going to Be Okay” is geared for parents concerned about their teen’s random ways.

Much like Bay District Schools and Panama City Beach Police Department’s efforts to inform parents about good and bad teen apps, Igbo is a free communication tool to help students stay safe.

Designed with peace of mind, Igbo allows parents to connect with one another, whether you’ve met them or not, as long as their children’s phones are within 50 yards of one another.

What this means is, if your child is hanging out with friends, or strangers, you can reach the parents of that particular 50-yard group of people for quick updates, coordination or emergency check-ins.

Parents also can see when their child’s phone leaves, or has been separated from, the 50-yard friend map.

Igbo’s beta testing will take place this summer in nearby Seaside in Walton County. Carolyn Baron, founder and president of the app, said it’s much like iPhone’s find my phone, or Life360.

“You can have parents, grandparents, nannies and additional adults associated with your child’s account,” Baron said, describing who has access to Igbo’s text messages. “But you cannot call and are not given the other parent’s telephone number.”

Baron added that within Igbo’s settings, parents can edit the sharing, or not sharing, of your location with certain family members.

“So, if you are divorced parents, you both will receive a text message from an inquiring parent, but you can prohibit an ex from seeing your location on your family’s map interface,” Baron said.

For more information about the free app, go to https://www.igbohome.com.