Total Fraudulent Marketing

[ckronengold]

I could not be more disappointed to find out how poorly this watch actually works. 

The main purpose of buying this watch was for its restrictions. I like that only people with the app can communicate with my child. If I wanted them to have an Apple Watch, I'd have bought one. 

But School Mode is a complete joke. Despite the app saying "Minimize distractions by disabling games as well as silencing calls and notifications", none of that actually works. Google support told me that it only disables the ability to make a call, but not turn off the games. 

The "call" button is disabled out on the phone, so my child can't make a call. Everything else remains on. And despite the messaging app saying "notifications are silenced" when I send a message to the watch, it is still giving a pop up notification when the message is received. 

When I spoke to Google support, they admitted that this is the actual functionality. I couldn't be more disappointed. 

[FitbitBen · Accepted solution]

Hi there - I'm part of the Ace LTE team. I'm sorry you had that experience. Unfortunately what you heard sounds completely wrong.

The school mode feature was carefully designed with teachers, parents, and school experts and works as follows:

1) All games and Bit Valley are blocked/disabled
2) Calls and notifications are prevented from buzzing or ringing
3) Messages are delivered silently and most other notifications are muted
4) Watchface changes to a simplified mode - aka "boring" according to a very opinionated 8 year old 🙂
5) Behind the scenes, steps + activity continue to count towards their goals

In terms of communication:
i) Your child can still contact you - eg. in an emergency, or if they've forgotten something urgent
ii) You can message your child (this will be delivered silently to them and they can read it when appropriate) - eg. to help arrange pickups
iii) You cannot call the child's device as this would require the device to ring and them to answer during school time (which is typically not allowed by schools)

Many schools have existing procedures for getting a message to your child during school hours, so I always turn on school mode and only use the communication feature as a last resort. 

The team tests this multiple times a week, but if any of that isn't working as described on your device, please let us know. If you have other suggestions, we'd love to hear the feedback.

Hope that clears things up! 

[ckronengold]

Maybe you need to educate your support team. 

I updated the firmware and it is now working as it should. 

[FitbitBen]

Glad to hear that - and yep, hear you loud and clear on the feedback. Thanks! 

[10westfarm]

To be clear this watch does NOT have parental controls in the sense that I can disable games all the time (but still have text an voice)?

[ckronengold]

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@10westfarm wrote:

To be clear this watch does NOT have parental controls in the sense that I can disable games all the time (but still have text an voice)?

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It does, if you leave it in School Mode 24/7. There is zero access to the games in school mode. You can still message (without audible notifications only). I believe the child can make a call in school mode, but nobody can call them. 

[Kodros]

If you use Google Family Link, you can block the game apps on there.  The games are very short though so I don't think it's something you need to worry about.  If my kid had a choice, he would play games the entire day.  But on the watch, he only spends 10 minutes a day on the games.  They let the kid play a little but then to progress the game, they have to actively move about.  So if you have a very active kid, it will be more than 10 minutes probably but that's the point right?  Get the kids to move around more.

[thedigitalhobo]

Respectfully, lets let people decide for themselves what features they do and don't need to worry about.

Glad your kid is easily bored with the games. My kid is infatuated with how many points she can earn in a day, and yes, that is the point. 

[Kodros]

It's not that he's bored with the games, it's just that the games require a lot of steps between play periods.  

[Capcapyapyap]

Can you add the fitbit ace app to canada 🙏

[FitbitElli]

Hi @Capcapyapyap, contacts in Canada can download and access the Ace app. Setup and use of the Fitbit Ace LTE is still restricted to the United States, excluding Alaska and US territories,

[Aldcu]

I'm running the latest firmware and without an option to set the Fitbit in watch mode only my kid will not be able to use/take the ACE to school. Parents should be able to choose what features they need to keep enable for their kids. Some parents may think messaging and calls are fine while other do not. I think there should be an option to set the ACE in watch mode only. Completely void of any type of distractions. Most schools are cracking down on smart watch and/or phone for good reason. The ACE can continue to track steps but the screen should be showing just time and date absolutely nothing else. No snake, no steps count not anything else just a plain old watch preferable device of color too. The ACE should be able to go in and out of watch mode only based on the school time schedule if the parents choose that mode.

[RiekoC]

Hello @Aldcu 

There is currently a feature request in the Product Feedback forum to give parents complete control over the Ace LTE functions during school time (<-- click link). I think this request matches what you want as the parent is asking for "watch only" mode. 

Please consider adding your vote & comments to the feature request. I understand that the developers monitor the Product Feedback forum to see what features are being requested for potential future implementation.