Fitbit Labs

[Diamond-Red]

First let me say I very much like the Fitbit product, but I hate Fitbit labs annoying "Ready to upload your first lab report?" on my home page. First of all, do they really believe people are willing to give them such sensitive and personal information such as labs? Is Fitbit practicing medicine now? Well my short answer is get real; forget about it!

I contacted tech support for assistance in removing this intrusive and unwelcomed request from my homepage. They tried and followed the normal steps to remove something like this, but were able to successfully remove it. What a bummer. The premium subscription has truly headed in the direction. Does anyone know how to remove that annoying ad from the home page? Can one of the programmers remove it please? 

[Diamond-Red]

Correction to post:

First let me say I very much like the Fitbit product, but I hate Fitbit labs annoying "Ready to upload your first lab report?" on my home page. Do they really believe people are willing to provide such sensitive and personal information such as labs? Is Fitbit practicing medicine now? Well my short answer is get real; forget about it!

I contacted tech support for assistance in removing this intrusive and unwelcomed request from my homepage. They followed the normal steps to remove something like this, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. What a bummer. The premium subscription has truly headed in the wrong direction. Does anyone know how to remove that annoying ad from the home page? Can one of the programmers remove it please? 

[DavidNGeb]

If you hear back from them please update. I have the same annoying splash screen and can't take a screen shot of my steps and data without getting that in the image as well. Soooooooooooooo frustrating.

[LZeeW]

Hello @Diamond-Red and welcome to the Community.  I'm with you on this.  When I get lab results, I have a conversation with my doctor.  I'm not sharing my results with Dr. Google.  I get wrong answers from Google's generative AI.  I can't comment on the annoying app issue.  Not all users get invited to participate.

That being said, I participated in two Fitbit studies in the past.  One was the Heart Study that led to the Irregular Rhythm Notifications.  This feature really helped some people.  The other was a behavior modification study to try and help diabetics mange their blood sugar.  Nothing seems to have come from that.

There is one thing I want to add.  You can edit your response after posting.  Tap on the down arrow in the upper right of your post and there is an edit option in the drop down.  You can save a little time.

[Diamond-Red · Accepted solution]

I will make sure to update if they contact me. Thank you

[Diamond-Red]

Thank you for the response and information regarding editing tips. Truly appreciated 😁

[CameraSue]

@LZeeW I wish I could give you more than one vote. Your responses (at least the ones I have come across) are spot on and well crafted. I agree with you on the generative AI; plus I am not comfortable with sharing such sensitive information through Fitbit. I would be interested in finding out how Fitbit even got the approval to request seeing such information. I have to wonder who at Fitbit is qualified to provide a "summary" of my lab report. I have to laugh because it says "if you're not ready, please share why in the survey"; what survey? Has anyone found this survey, and how do I get to it?

I too have the intrusive "Fitbit Labs" splashed on my main screen on the mobile app. I have provided feedback via the app asking that they allow users to move the splash message, or dismiss it altogether.

Is this why we are losing other features? The loss of email notifications when the battery is low on our device, no web dashboard, the disappearance of the user profile page (where you can see lifetime steps and distance). It just bothers me that things that were established and used regularly are taken away with no warning.

[LawnPaul]

What's really annoying is when you do opt in, and it is only a waiting list. BUT the banner to join never disappears. 

[Diamond-Red]

I would totally agree with you. That would be so terribly frustrating for me, and others I'm sure. Thanks for that insight and your post.

[Diamond-Red]

I bet. That would be frustrating for most people.

[AltoWoman]

I've got the lab report notice too - very annoying.  Firstly, if you're "not ready"  it asks you to explain why in the survey - what survey?? And then if you click "get started" (which I clicked purely out of "what the __?" curiosity) it just gives you the opportunity to join a wait-list, and whether you do or do not join the wait-list, the notification never goes away. 

At the end of the day, I don't need or want this "service" but it looks like the notice is permanently on my today screen -- right next to that infernal cardio-load notice which I and seemingly everyone else wishes would go away!  It's not enough we're still dealing with THAT, now some of us get TWO notices we can't "x" out of?? C'mon, Fitbit/Google, this is getting ridiculous.

[Diamond-Red]

I agree with you AltoWoman. It appears that they are just pooling a group of people with that survey hook, and have no intent on removing the banner from our homepage. No one has contacted me from the Fitbit organization to address the concerns of obviously many. I love using the Fitbit technology, however, truly considering dropping my subscription with them and moving on. Unfortunately we have gotten to the times where companies simply Force things down our throats where the we want it or not. This is an example of that very thing happening. I don't think there's a survey, I believe it's more of a trap door. I'm sure Fitbit won't miss my annual subscription fee, but it appears it's the only way to get their attention; if they really did care. Thank you for your reply though. I hope you're able to find some relief from that annoying Banner on our homepage.

[LawnPaul]

im actually excited for the labs stuff. i get labs every 6 months, and would like to see plotted charts to see differences.

this banner just makes me angry because i see it, and want it 

[DavidNGeb]

I don't see how we PAY for a service and then they, basically, put up
advertisement on your home page %$&**^#@%

[Diamond-Red]

Haven't heard anything from fitbit thus far. Guest their not concerned with the users opinions. 

[LawnPaul]

you can not like the banner, but it isnt really an ad.

they are adding a new feature. just like the new "symptoms checker"

i think it should just be another tile down the list, under the health section (below heart rate tracker). 

if it isnt used, it should just stay blank. like the body temperature section on mine. 

again, I agree it should not be at the top like that, at least not once you dismiss it. But you shouldn't be mad that they added this even when you pay premium. it will likely only be available to premium users

[DavidNGeb]

I'll be mad when I'm mad and didn't need you to tell me when i should or
shouldn't be upset.

[LMH82]

You can opt out of most if the Google AI overview features but turning it off in Google by touching the beaker icon in the top left corner. Opting out of participation in the Fitbit labs should remove the notification on the home screen and it doesn't. 

[Diamond-Red]

Yes you would think so. I did contact fitbit support and they tried everything to remove the banner from my homepage but were unsuccessful in doing so. He even seemed a bit frustrated that none of his efforts would work. He suggested that the banner should disappear in a few days, but it never did. I have actually canceled my premium account as of yesterday. It will stay active until October of 2025 and then will not renew. I'm sorry I have to leave Fitbit, but if I allow them to do this they'll do something else at a later date and I will have absolutely no control. Thank you for your response.