What real-time phone location can realistically mean
That still does not create a perfectly continuous live feed. Mobile coverage, GPS conditions, location permissions, background activity, battery restrictions and operating-system behaviour can all interrupt or delay reporting.
Guardian shows battery and last-update context so parents can judge how current the map information appears before drawing conclusions from a position that may be older than expected.
The Family Map is therefore useful for context rather than proof of an exact position at every moment. If information is important or appears stale, direct contact remains sensible; Guardian is not an emergency service.
Quick questions
What does real-time child location mean in Guardian?
It means Guardian can show the latest location successfully reported by the connected child phone, with newer updates arriving when the device is able to provide them.
Is Guardian a perfectly continuous live child-location feed?
No. Connectivity, GPS, permissions, background restrictions, battery behaviour and operating-system conditions can all create gaps or delays.
How can parents tell whether the child map position may be old?
Battery information and the device’s last-update context help parents judge how recently the connected phone appears to have reported.