Allow parents to setup any device for their kids in the family account

[Jetts]

I have asked 2 Fitbit support workers who suggested leaving my ideas on the suggestion page for them. The problem is I see more than one form over this issue and starting back in 2017. I would like to get my children Fitbit devices, since I have been using a Fitbit surge and just recently bought myself a versa last year. Unfortunately, I can not setup any device except the ace or ace 2 for a children's account. My children and I both dislike the ace and ace 2 and would rather get the Inspire HR or Inspire yet these will not setup under a child's account. I would like this problem solved before I need to take the business for my kids fit trackers somewhere else. This issue has been here since 2017 please please fix this so any tracker can be set up under a kids account

[Odyssey13]

Hi @Jetts  due to laws across the world, children are prohibited from having an online account and using these devices. The Ace series was made especially to allow children six and up to use these services. Fitbit is abiding by those laws.  Lying about the age would create a problem since the algorithms are made based on gender, age, height and weight. So that would give completely wrong data for your child. I just checked and COPPA (the law that is being followed) has announced some changes, which may make the age sixteen and up. Not sure why there is a change, there were so many stories about it, I didn't stop to check them out.

[Jetts]

I understand the privacy laws up here in Canada. The issue is NOT having a separate account for them. I am asking why other devices are not being allowed to be linked to the CHILDREN'S account in the FAMILY account section. I have asked and asked this question but everyone brings up protecting their privacy and not setuping a false account for the kids. Why can't an inspire, charge or any other device be set up under the children's account in the family account section? Are these other devices dangerous or giving off information under the kids account some how that is different from the Ace and Ace 2? I understand that there are more options to these devices but being linked to a kids profile in the family account should not effect the privacy of these kids since it will still be under the kids / family account. This is an improvement that I would like the Fitbit app to change so that any device may be added to a protected kid's profile.

[SilviaFitbit]

@Jetts Welcome to the Community. 

Thanks for your advice @Odyssey13. 

I appreciate your feedback and comments, we're always striving to improve our services offered. In this case, you may want to find more information about kid's account and family account by checking these posts: 

How do I manage my Fitbit family account? 

Our Continued Commitment To Data Privacy and Security 

How can I help secure my Fitbit account and data? 

As a side note, I noticed that this idea has been posted here, you may want to vote and comment to show your support. Even thought the status is not currently planned, we always appreciate your passion and creativity that comes out of this Community. Find more about the Fitbit Official reply there. 

I'll be around if you have any additional questions. 

[Happychic372]

I am having issues with this as well, my 10 year old got an Inspire HR for Christmas, and I am trying to set it up under my account, but I can not figure out how. So now after reading this is it not possible?? What kind of craziness is that? Surely I am reading wrong......

[kelbel9652]

I wish I would have read the forums BEFORE letting my daughter spend her birthday money on an Inspire.  I'm so frustrated right now that I cannot add her to my account.  She does not the either of the ACE products.  Why does the product itself matter?  It should be based on the age inputted in the system right??

[cbtraywick73]

I understand this part of it. 

What no one seems to want to answer is why the Inspire HR (or any other device) is less secure than the Ace or Ace 2. We totally get the fact that there has to be parent supervision of the child’s account and parent permission for tracking ... but why limit the actual device that the kids can use under the family account? None of the articles you linked to address that question.

Thank you.

[Eccohawk]

It appears that what they're not saying is that these other devices, because they are not specifically called out as kid-specific devices, are being treated by the company as adult only devices.  And by that, I mean that they are very likely not only storing and tracking our data (which seems kind of obvious since it's literally called a 'tracker'), but also selling our personal data to other companies, or using it for marketing, research, and to sell ad space within their app and/or website.  It's very likely buried in the Terms of Service somewhere that this is what they do.  In order to ensure that the data they're capturing and selling is that of adults only, they chose to simply limit that data capture by the type of device, rather than redesign their systems to do age verification checks prior to capturing and distributing that data. Having worked in tech for a couple decades now, I'm about 95% sure that this is the reality.  Privacy laws + Lazy Devs + Code rewrite costs = kid 'friendly' trackers that can't be used by adults and other trackers that can't be used by kids.