How long before Fitbit instigate a recommended feature

[SunsetRunner]

Just bought my first Fitbit (Luxe) after migrating/needing something lighter than my trusty Polar M400 I have had for years.

When getting to grips with all the features and privacy etc, I noticed that when adding or requesting a friend, even if you want to keep your data private, this is not possible on daily average steps. For everything else you have 3 choices: public, friends, or private/just you. I did do a live chat about this and it was confirmed that you cannot keep your average steps per day private from friends. It just doesnt make sense that some features you can, yet others you can't. The operator did say she would pass the feedback onto the relevant department, but I wonder do they actually do this, and if so, how long before they instigate it or we can ask if it will be implemented at all?

For me, privacy is a big thing, and I like to choose what I display or say; although I have no issues if someone wants to know something as they can always ask. Just as an example: because of health issues there isn't that much I can do re exercise, so anything showing is probably laughable to the average person, so I prefer to keep that private.

Many thanks in advance.

[Odyssey13]

Hi @SunsetRunner  not sure there is an answer for that. In order to do challenges, your steps have to be known to those in the same group. I'm not sure when or if Fitbit would be able to find a way to give you what you want. Privacy is important to many of us. Many of our Fitbit friends we'll never meet in real life and we don't know their real names. I have one real life group who do challenges together and no one is allowed in the group that we do not personally know in real life. Once I invited a Fitbit friend and my real life friend quit the challenge and sent me a message, so I never did that again. There is one group I'm in where we do our best and everyone cheers no matter how many of how few steps we take. We all have days when we just can't do much, but the main thing is we are doing something. I know this doesn't really answer anything, but I do know you're going to love the Luxe. I have one myself.

[LZeeW]

@SunsetRunner   I am reading your post a little different from @Odyssey13.  I believe you are writing about the average daily step count that is part of your overall profile, not you current count that might be part of a challenge.  When you go to the privacy settings, the Average Daily Step Count has two choices, Friends and Public.   Apparently, Fitbit used to have a Hide Me option.  This was removed some time ago.  A Feature Suggestion about the Hide Me option was started in 2016 and changed to Not Currently Planned in 2019.  I started a new Feature Suggestion today, but it might take a day or two for it to be listed in the FS forum.  I will add a link when it shows up.  People care a lot more about their privacy now.

[SunsetRunner]

Thank you Odyssey13.

I am maybe the opposite to you, as when I set the watch up, it was asking me to request friends in my address book - all of these who had a Fitbit were from 'real life.'  I think i may have misunderstood the challenges too I thought these were personal challenges that you do through the app? Such as 'beating your daily/weekly/monthly goal' or 'Best result of all time.' All the ones I've seen on the web page seemed to be aimed at the average fit healthy person and not those with disabilities. Am I correct in this?

[SunsetRunner]

Yes LZeeW, I think although both answers are good, I am thinking more about what you say; our own personal daily step counts. As it is unlikely I would be able to take part in any of the public challenges, or certainly very few, I presumed our personal daily steps would be part of the challenges too?  

Thank you for starting a new suggestion, as like you say, people do value their privacy more; me in particular as for a long time now I am into PGP/GPG encryption 🙂

Thank you for the reply.

[Odyssey13]

Oh @SunsetRunner  there is a whole world of fun with challenges and you don't need to be an ironman triathlete to enjoy them. Many in my group (max of 10) have a daily step count of under 4,500 and it doesn't matter. We just have fun and chit chat during the challenge. Everyone can read our messages, but that's fine. You can always send a more private message too. Click to learn more about challenges.

[SunsetRunner]

Under 4.000! I am lucky if I can do 1,000. Thank you thought for thinking of me and replying, I appreciate it.