Setup for 14 and under

[waxnoxious]

Is there a way to set up inspire 3 for children aged 14 and under that doesn't require me to add the device to my own account and track me as though I am a child? Because that seems to be the only way to do that as of today. It's not worth a fitbit to monkey with family link, so don't bother with that nonsense "advice". I guess on the bright side, I get to look at the data as though I am fit as a 10-year-old! It's too bad Google still can't figure this stuff out in the 2020s...

[Odyssey13 · Accepted solution]

Hi @waxnoxious short answer is no. The child accounts are for the Ace, which requires a Family account. It is COPPA, the law to protect children on the internet, which Fitbit has to follow. If your child is 13 and older (USA) or 16 (some European countries) then it should allow for it to be set up as their own, unmonitored account.

[waxnoxious]

So the proper solution is to label that on the box. Clearly this is a widespread problem and Google is greedily taking advantage of consumers. Not that anyone should be surprised by that. Thank you for your response, @Odyssey13, though it did not tell me anything I didn't already know. No amount of reasonable research could have told me this beforehand. If only I had the foresight to ask a crazy question like "will there be trouble with setting up a child's account?" I guess 70 million is too small a demographic for Google to care about, despite the fact that they are the most vulnerable. It's not hard to please consumers by doing what's right; Google simply and blatantly refuses to do so. Likewise, I haven't said anything people don't already know. I will use my workaround for now, or boycott Fitbit if I must.

[Ash0000]

I agree. I purchased the Ace twice and returned.  It would work properly.   I have an inspire, but she cannot use it. I think it should be bigger Letters cannot use if you are under 13.  Just ridiculous 

[Ash0000]

It would not I meant to say

[AussieKirst]

OMG this is DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!

Apparently due to privacy laws children are unable to use an Inspire device.  

The only way to connect a child is to the Ace device however these are not suitable for most kids that want a Fitbit/watch!!!  It’s fine for my 5yo but by 7 and 9 year old want a more mature looking device.

The only way is to therefore connect the inspire to an adult account, thereby bypassing the privacy laws, which defeats the very purpose!

makes me so angry.

Amazon can work it out for a kindle, so why can’t Fitbit work it out?!!!!! 

sorry for the rant

[AussieKirst]

I feel exactly the same, having purchased 2 inspire devices for my 7 and 9 year old!

[Odyssey13]

@AussieKirst  it's called COPPA (click to learn more) and it's the law. Fitbit has to abide by the law, which is why there is such a restriction. You can go anywhere you want to rant, even Twitter/X, but that won't change the existing laws that must be obeyed.

[AussieKirst]

I get it, my point is why can’t they limit the software on their inspire device like they do the ace device?!

Their lack of technology is forcing parents to bypass the law…

[waxnoxious]

@Odyssey13 No one is disputing that. It's about marketing, finding a solution that works with the law, and satisfying consumers. So far, Google has achieved only one of those requirements, which is fine if they don't care about customer satisfaction or appropriate marketing. Unfortunately Google and Apple have become stagnant over the years and they have too much market share to care about customer satisfaction. Why bother if you're making more money than you know what to do with?