Help please - How to set up Charge 6 for an 11 year old?

[KAGEMISTRY]

What is the right way to setup a charge 6 for my 11 year old connected to her iPhone?

With a google family account, charge 6 doesn't appear in "add device" list when going through setup steps.

So to get it working for now, I've had to setup for my child with my account.

Thanks.

[alexthecat · Accepted solution]

@KAGEMISTRY I'm sorry, but the Charge 6 is intended for users who are 13 or older. In some countries it can only be used with people who are 16 or older. There is not a way to set it up for a younger child. 

[Rich_Laue]

Sorry but the Charge 6 does not conform to COPPA laws, and why you do not see this option 

[KAGEMISTRY]

Thank you.

When researching the purchase, there was nothing with regards to an age restriction that I came across which you would expect as a guidance note by FitBit advertising/branding team. Therefore can only conclude a possible shameful purposeful exclusion of information to aid sales.

[KAGEMISTRY]

Thank you.

What COPPA law does the Charge 6 not conform to out of interest? Surely this must be something Fitbit is trying to resolve as an issue for the device?

[Rich_Laue]

@KAGEMISTRY please see the Terms of Service that you agreed to 

Privacy requirements 

[PerfectBlue]

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@Rich_Laue wrote:

Sorry but the Charge 6 does not conform to COPPA laws, and why you do not see this option 

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I live in a country where COPPA doesn't apply, why is there no override, or at least geo fencing?

Seems like lazy coding to me.

[Rich_Laue]

Nope, it is by design, how meny 11 year olds require oxygen , AFIB, or ECG readings. The Fitbit Ace line is designed for minors. I haven't looked at the  Charge 6 packaging  but past models had clear mention of the age limits

[PerfectBlue]

We're talking about the software lockout in the registration process for the devices.

If you have a child attached to your family account the software blocks you from having setting up certain devices for them, you can't opt out, it's a hard block at on the server.

My 11 year old might not need those things, but if I give them my old Fitbit when I buy a new one, they will have them anyway. The software lockout forces me to buy them a whole new device.

[ChicagoMomof5]

We had a similar issue - my 11 y/o was gifted a Charge 6. We can’t return and I’m not investing more in an Ace. I set up a whole new adult Google email (with no identifying info) and made a new “adult” Fitbit account. So not tied to my account but I can easily switch between profiles. It works, but the heart rate and some of the other features seem “off” enough that I think Fitbit didn’t calibrate for younger/smaller users. 

[Mcav75]

There is no good reason why you can't let your 11 year-old to use the charge 6. The whole "isn't intended for young children" and suggestions you see to get the Fitbit Ace are quite frankly insulting. There are very good reasons why a tween or young teen would want to track their fitness that includes heart rate tracking. The "experts" in the room constantly overlook the fact that a tween or early teen is NOT a young child any more.

Please contribute to this product feedback thread: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Product-Feedback/Allow-fitbit-devices-for-supervised-Google-accounts...

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I'm quite sure they have been locked out at the server side. Given that this is not an advertised restriction, you have every right to return it under consumer protection laws*

*In the UK

[creepysound]

I completely agree. I have a child with extra needs, which requires medication and that medication can cause elevated heart rate, blood pressure rise. The condition itself can give insomnia problems..etc So these kind of data is very important for us as parents to track. 

[PalmK]

Unfortunately, my 11 year old has some congenital heart issues that make it necessary for us to track oxygen, heart rate, and ECG. So now I’ve got to figure a way around the design because my child doesn’t conform to “norms” set by ignorant people. 

[Sean_in_sd]

What was doctor's opinion on using an exercise tracker for critical life
monitoring?

[PalmK]

The pediatric Cardiologist was the one that suggested we get a fitness watch that specifically monitors ECG. Fitbit was only one of the brands he suggested. 

[LZeeW]

Hello @PalmK and welcome to the Community.  I hope this explanation can give some clarity.  First, all Fitbits, except the Ace series, have a web dashboard.  This web dashboard isn't compliant with internet privacy laws that protect children.  In a nutshell, your child can't have a Fitbit account for the same reason they can't have a Facebook account.

Much more important than that, the ECG it isn't approved by the FDA to be used in children.  It is an adult device.  The same is true for other devices that can record a spot ECG like the Google Pixel Watch, the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy watch, and a credit card sized device called Kardia Mobile.  Apple Watch won't let you setup the feature if you don't meet the minimum age.  Kardia Support says it will remove data if it is found to have been collected from a child.

Here is some additional information for the cardiologist.  FDA approval for devices is separated into pediatric and adult age ranges.  These companies that I listed all got their FDA approval from studies on adults.  They don't have pediatric approval.  It's unfortunate that your child's cardiologist asked you to get a device that doesn't seem to exist.

[Rich_Laue]

You can blame this on COPPA, other countries also have similar regulations. Fitbit/Googles hands are tied