Having someone who needs a “home safe” text from you means someone’s counting heads at the end of your night.

Being asked to check in is easy to read as being managed. What it means is that somebody is awake, or half awake, waiting to know you are fine, and will not properly settle until you send it. Concern that specific is not surveillance. It is a person keeping track of you because the alternative is not knowing.

Send the message without being asked twice. Two words is enough, and it hands somebody the rest of their evening. If you are the one doing the waiting, say so plainly rather than pretending it does not matter to you.