Because children’s safety is paramount to parents, Google says it took extra precautions with the Fitbit Ace LTE. Rather than trying to protect data, Google adopted a policy of data minimization. Unlike Fitbit for adults, Google doesn’t collect health data for product improvement or research, it just deletes it all. Location history is deleted after 24 hours, and health data after 30 days. No third-party apps or ads are allowed.
Does your child need a device?
When I told my kids about the new watch I was going to test, my 9-year-old frowned and said, “That sounds distracting.” (Yes, she’s the gadget review kid.) The device exudes a deep ambivalence about the impact smart devices have on kids. Kids are getting cell phones at younger and younger ages. According to Common Sense Media, about half of U.S. kids own a smartphone by age 11, and my kids have already started relying on mine to log into specialized school apps.
At the same time, recognizing the devastating impact social media has on adolescent mental health, schools in Portland, Oregon, have begun banning cell phones and smartwatches from school altogether. Organizations like Wait Until 8th are asking parents to sign a pledge to not give their children a smartphone until they are in the eighth grade. My husband and I won’t give our kids smartphones until they’re 14.
I’m pretty happy with Apple’s Family Setup and the limited functionality of my kids’ Apple Watches. The only problem is that my kids don’t seem motivated to charge them and wear them often, so they often aren’t wearing them when they should be.
The Fitbit Ace LTE could change that. While the idea of a gaming device that you can wear 24/7 makes me a little nervous, it would motivate me to keep it charged and on my wrist. Plus, I don’t want to keep buying a new band every six months; my bank account and I are already struggling to keep up with bands. Animal Crossing And the Squishmallow habit.
Courtesy of Fitbit and Google
“All we have to do is make a great product, and schools will respond,” says Anil Sabharwal, vice president of health and wearables product management at Google. “We’re working with school boards to see how we can put mechanisms in place to allow the watch to be used in schools. But that being said, there’s a lot of time before school where parents want to make sure their kids get there safely. They have after-school activities, and we see a lot of value there.”
The solution isn’t perfect, but at least it exists. Giving your child a smartwatch can be a distraction, but it also gives them the freedom to move around their neighborhood, exercise, and interact with friends in person. If the device helps achieve these goals, I’m all for it. And maybe walking around more will give your child a slightly better sense of direction.
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