Activity Groups have been closed

[MatthewFitbit]

Fitbit Update 6/14/19: We have removed the web-based activity groups from Fitbit.com. Our enhanced community features within the Fitbit mobile app provide users with a significantly better experience by allowing them to access fitness-related news and local events, connect and message with friends, discover public groups of like-minded individuals, and create their own private groups.

User-created groups on the Fitbit app also allow members to track their progress through group leaderboards and cheer each other on, just as they could through the web. The Fitbit mobile app is available for Android and iOS.

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As of 6/13/2019, Web Activity Groups have been deprecated and will no longer be accessible.

We know that many of you have used this space to connect with friends and fellow Fitbit users, and we recommend considering the in-app Fitbit Community to continue those conversations. Along with topical public threads where you can discuss personal health goals, the Community also offers closed groups with many advantages - including space for up to 2,000 members, and leaderboard statistics.

For more information on joining and inviting your friends to these closed groups, check out this article. We know that this kind of transition can be difficult, but we are confident that you'll find lots to love in the new Fitbit Community!

[klamana-finn]

I agree UnicornJean. I'm so disheartened that I lost my team and the
leaderboard! I loved comparing active minutes, as I'm a jogger, in addition
to steps! We must find a company that provides the same kind of leaderboard
information.

[tjhsmom]

Yes I would like to know this too.  For planning purposes and wish list purposes.  

[SunsetRunner]

@MatthewFitbit That to total BS.  If people where listening how hard would it be to turn back on.

One line of code to display the menu option again.

It is easier to turn on than have a great % of users pissed off.

I have been in software development for 20+ years.  

I have also made mistakes in the past and I have owned them.

If only a small handful of users where dissatisfied I would make a change.

In this case it is easy, turn if on.

Completely disregarding users and forcing incomplete solutions is not customer service.

I am not saying the in-app groups are total crap, but they are incomplete.

Right now you are only seeing a few angry people.  Wait until the end of the month when companies try and get their employee rankings. 

If the web based groups are reinstated most of this mess goes away.  That will give Fitbit time to work on the app and make it complete.

If there is a real reason, other than pissing everyone off, to why the groups are gone let us here it.  As it has been said before why turn the off in the middle of the week, in the middle of the month.  The proper time to depreciate something is at the end/beginning of the month.  So the depreciation story just does not fly.  These types of actions make it really hard to trust that Fitbit is trying to help people.  Just tell us the truth and be sincere.

[checking]

@SunsetRunner In addition to some fairly obvious financial issues and cost-benefit analysis (possibly miscalculated), the group software (except the leaderboards), is very legacy and poorly written: - self-evident if you are a programmer/developer and you've used the group search engine (basic search is the first letter, like the index of a book, and a detailed search lets you go for the first two letters - LMAO), and the group forum editor speaks for itself. I expect unmaintainable and no ingrained usage statistics to determine which groups can be removed. Also probably violates a number of privacy standards - groups can't be deleted, not even by Fitbit when you ask them to do so. Again probably comes down to the financials - not interested in paying to bring the platform up to industry/good programming, and possibly legal standards for a declining user population.

[SunsetRunner]

@checkingThere is no denying that.  But to remove without a suitable replacement is wrong on so many more levels.  That is why I believe, and I would like @MatthewFitbit to say I am wrong, something broke.  Then Fitbit made the decision not to repair.  If that is true I would still be disappointed. But I would understand and believe they made a decision based on the situation at hand.  Instead of terminating a tool that so many used with no other alternative.  I am just looking for a valid reason, not BS.

Without Fitbit coming clean we will just believe that the report is out there, we just don't have access to it because of a poor decision at Fitbit.

[SidPickering]

It has now been seven days since the "Powers" that be unceremoniously removed my access to my much valued activity group. 🤬🤬

I miss comparing my daily and month to date achievements with my fellow participants ever so much.

The excuses that we are being given and the suggestions that the  "Powers" are giving simply make no sense as they simply do not give back what they have taken away.

Why - Why - Why ???????? !!!!!!!!!

[checking]

@SunsetRunner, Agreed, and me giving an imaginary (but plausible) technical explanation is not Fitbit giving some sort of technical rationale, particularly for the way it was done.  

[mmclaughlin]

Absolutely the BEST post I've read on this topic! 

[thingstodo]

Add new group:

Group name

The fat people group

Group Description

Over weight and tired of comparing steps with 150 lb athletes

Group Rules

You can still be a member if you are under 200 lbs

Create button does not work.  No error messages.  There is no 'Next' button.

It doesn't work until you add a picture and give fitbit access to your camera and all of your files.

Your programmers need to review some online tutorials on interface design, user messages, and such.  This 'letting the user know what is going on' stuff has been in software design 101 courses for 30 years!

[Vincenza]

I’m afraid I have a theory.  I live in U.K. so I’m only talking about my personal  perspective as I see it here. What is the average age of the people posting on here? 50? More?  If I’m wrong, sorry!  But I have a 39 yr old son, who cycles to and from his office in the centre of London from Balham every day. He changes into his suit when he gets there. They have facilities (showers etc) as lots of companies have employees that do this. He goes to the gym most days a week.  He’s tall, lean, fit and successful. Would he wear a Fitbit.? No way! His mum wears one! He bought one as a present for his 7yr old daughter so she could compete against me in challenges. 

My son-in-law. Very successful. Director of a global technology consultancy. Goes to a weekly boot camp, very health conscious. Would he wear a Fitbit? Err .. no. He has a watch from “another company”. But he thinks I’m doing great with mine. Good for you, Nana, he says all the time. 

My other son-in-law has much more sophisticated stuff. Don’t know what. He’s in the south of France at the moment on holiday for three weeks, so better not bother him with that sort of question. 

The point I’m making is that Fitbit are trying to get into the sophisticated healthcare/sports wearables along with all the other big companies. It’s the way forward and they cannot afford to be left behind. WE, us “oldies” are holding them back.  

They just DON’T want us anymore. We oldies are wrecking their IMAGE!  They’re just too nice to come out and say it directly to us. 

The only bit I don’t get is the company step incentive plans. Maybe there are not as many of those that will make a difference? 

Is this all true Matthew Fitbit?? Or what?? Or maybe you don’t know yourself. Or maybe you’re an AI!        I dare you to tell me I’m right? Privately of course! I won’t tell. Honestly.... 

[Bosco253]

Many of us have theorized that ageism is at work here, so your thoughts are
in line with that. I wouldn't say that Fitbit is "too nice" to tell us; I'd
say it's more that they don't wish to appear blatantly age-biased.
Personally, if what you posit is the truth, I'd prefer that they have the
guts to admit it. "Nice" is certainly not a word I'd associate with how
we've been dealt.

[Bosco253]

Well, with that work ethic and attitude you certainly couldn't work for
Fitbit!

[Vincenza]

I should have put nice in inverted commas! “Nice”. It WASN'T nice. It’s  like they are patting a sick person or a child  on the head and saying “there, there” .. Condescending to say the least. We are NOT loopy. 

If I didn’t get it worded in quite the way I wanted it to appear, at least I hope you understood  what I meant anyway. It’s been on my mind all week. Whilst out on my walks, I did compose perfect sentences, but then didn’t  quite remember them exactly word for word. 

[Vincenza]

It doesn’t really matter though. Whatever I wrote or what any of us write here, we are mere drops in the ocean. In the grand scheme of things …err Fitbit’s scheme …we really DON’T matter at all. So be it. …end of an era. But I have enjoyed it. Thanks to Fitbit I’ve gone from doing absolutely no exercise at all to being slightly obsessed. And  I’m still going to keep up with it . Whether with Fitbit or another company, I shall continue to defy the ravages of time. I’m not ready for slippers and daytime TV yet. 

[UnicornJean]

@MatthewFitbit 

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@MatthewFitbit wrote:

Can web groups be migrated to the mobile experience?
We are unable to migrate web activity groups - however, the community features within the Fitbit mobile app allow users to create their own private groups and invite others via Fitbit, Facebook, or email to join and grow the new group. If you are using groups as part of your company, a program administrator can invite as many company participants or can invite one participant who can then invite their friends.

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(Italics added by UnicornJean)

You may want to check this statement. Apparently inviting by email is not an option at this time. Another person tried it and @YojanaFitbit said he couldn't; the only way to invite people is by being friends. (See here: Inviting to a Closed Group via e-mail?) This was one of my concerns: that company HR personnel wouldn't want to have to add a bunch of friends to start a company group.

Clearly the in-app groups are not ready for prime time. In the meantime, until they work as advertised, Fitbit management should give us back the groups that do work as advertised.

And @Vincenza, well written. I'm not going to toss my Charge 3. It was a gift and I don't casually throw away gifts. I will keep walking and getting healthier. I will have to be my own self-motivator, but I know my friends here, in my virtual races ... ambles, and on Facebook will continue to offer encouragement. 

[SunsetRunner]

Just checking in to see if Groups restored. Guess not. Thanks again, Fitbit.

[sj32]

More like thanks for nothing

Sent from my iPhone

[jjwillamson]

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@MatthewFitbit wrote:

Hi everyone - I wanted to again assure you that all your feedback is being heard, and that I'm doing everything I can to make sure we avoid this kind of situation in the future. As I have mentioned, there is no plan at this time to bring back web-based activity groups. I would recommend checking out the in-app community groups (which offer private group options), or the Lifestyle Discussion side of this forum. I know they aren't exactly the same as what you're used to, but they both host great conversations about personal health and support toward your goals. 

With that said.. there is no future with Fitbit from my end. We're done as soon as this one inevitably dies.

The app is not going to be used on my phone, hell I can't read that tiny stuff! Nope, no groups i can use from my computer means no reason to continue using an inferior product, the group were the only reason I purchased repeats when the others broke so quickly. 

Here are a few more answers to questions I've seen since I last checked in:

Did web-based group membership transfer to the mobile app Community?

We are unable to migrate web activity groups. You can use the in-app Community to create a new group and invite your friends via Fitbit username, Facebook account, or email.

Unable? or Unwilling? I'm fairly certain it's the latter, unless your dev guys are seriously incompetent, allow me to refer you to some folks that actually have some skill.

Complaints are pointless, begging is pointless, so taking our money elsewhere is the only option left. At least you're getting some warning....

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[5woof]

I strongly disagree with removing the Groups. You're saying, unless you have a smart phone, you're not worth it. How very limiting & narrow-minded of you. Not everybody has a smart phone.

I use a desktop computer. When my Fitbit dies, it may be time to try a different tracker, one that doesn't limit people.

[colddonkey]

So pathetic of me as every morning when I roll out of bed I grap my coffee stumble into my "office" and the first thing I click is Fitbit hoping that the Leader board has been reinstalled.  Sigh............ another nope today.