Lyft has rolled out a new teen accounts feature that lets children as young as 13 ride alone, a move that is drawing both interest and alarm from parents and safety advocates.
The new policy opens the Lyft app to riders aged 13 to 17 in more than 200 U.S. cities, including major markets such as New York, Chicago, Boston, and Atlanta. Teenagers can now request rides on their own through dedicated teen accounts, without an adult in the car.
Only a parent or legal guardian can create a teen profile from their existing Lyft account, adding the child's contact details and a shared payment method before the teen receives a unique sign-up link by text. Lyft's terms state that teen riders and any guests must be at least 13, and anyone under 13 is strictly banned from using the service or riding as an unaccompanied minor, according to Parents.
Safety Tools and Driver Requirements
Lyft says the teen feature was designed with "safety first," adding several layers of digital safeguards to every trip. Parents can follow rides in real time, receive notifications at pickup and drop-off, and contact the driver or their child directly through the app.
Extra tools for these trips include PIN verification to confirm the correct driver, optional audio recording, and Smart Trip Check-In, which flags unusual route changes or long stops. Only drivers who meet stricter standards, such as annual background checks, strong safety records, and high star ratings, are allowed to accept teen rides, CNBC reported.
Parents' and Experts' Concerns
Despite these measures, many parents and child-safety experts warn that sending teens alone with a stranger still carries real risks.
Some worry about possible harassment, unsafe driving, or rare but serious crimes, noting that recent violent incidents involving Lyft drivers have already raised questions about screening and safety. Others point out that a smartphone button may not be enough if a teen feels intimidated and hesitates to call for help, as per Yahoo Finance.
Family counselors and parenting experts advise that parents treat the new option as a tool, not a default. They recommend practice rides, clear rules about when to use Lyft, strict instructions on seat belts and not sharing personal information, and a firm plan to end the trip and contact an adult or emergency services if anything feels wrong.
