We need more devices available for kids

[srabbie]

Back in 2018, a thread began regarding Fitbit allowing more devices to be available for kids accounts. The thread was closed out in 2020 and other threads remain open up until September 2023.

Bottom line, now that Google is in charge here, can we please get some developers to properly segregate the data of which is required for kids accounts so that we, as parents have flexibility on devices for the kids? There is no reason that the developers can not segregate the data, keeping kids Internet rights and protections while affording more device availability.

[MetalDave]

I agree, @srabbie. Google seems to not have followed the common thread with the applications for children (especially in the 9 to 13 year old category).  Many want to use features of the Inspire line for their kids, but Fitbit artificially restricts this from happening by insisting they need to use an ACE-series device.  Of course, users will just change the age of the child, but there's no fundamental reason for not allowing this to be a parent decision.

I believe this is a carryover from the Fitbit directive, and, since the Google takeover, everything at Fitbit has been, predominantly, status quo.  In other words, they haven't worked to change anything (policy, product, or service) for better or worse.

[LZeeW]

@srabbie  @MetalDave   This is my understanding of the issue.  All Fitbits, except for the Ace series, have a web dashboard.  There are internet privacy laws.  A child in the US must be 13 and older to have a Fitbit account for the same reason they need to be 13 and older to have a Facebook account.  The age varies by county.  In some EU countries, a person must be 16 and older.  This is why Fitbit created Family Accounts with all information on the mobile app.  None of the data is accessible from the web.

The way I see it, the way to segregate the data is to completely eliminate the web dashboard.

[MetalDave]

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@LZeeW wrote:

The way I see it, the way to segregate the data is to completely eliminate the web dashboard.

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If this is truly a regulatory issue regarding privacy laws, there's plenty of precedent for compliance where data of a minor is involved.  We have web-based applications for education that is designed for children under 13.  On the same token, my information is also not supposed to be publicly available as an adult (unless I choose to share it).  I expect we have privacy laws intended to keep data secure for any age group, so maybe Fitbit is not in compliance in some capacity.  Why Google would restrict access for Supervised (i.e. child) Accounts and not adult accounts would not make any sense from this perspective.  It's an interesting hypothesis, though, but I expect Fitbit / Google would never be forthright with that information.