Charge 4 setup for kids

[Ozbenezra]

Hi, I am trying to set up Charge 4 for my kid who got the watch for Xmas. Is there and option to set it up under a family account? The only options on the menu is ace and ace 3. I also tried using is on email but because it is an under 13 email Fitbit app will not allow it . Not sure why there is a limit. 

Oz

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[BraulioFitbit · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community, @Braznik14 and @leeannjake.

@leeannjake If your granddaughter is 13 years old (and if she is located in the US), she can create a regular Fitbit account and setup her Charge 4 as instructed here.

@Braznik14 Your feedback is appreciated, Fitbit is always working to improve its products and services provided. Fitbit, same as other companies, must comply with Child Online Protection Act (COPA) regulations. For that reason it's not possible to create a regular account for your kid, and Charge 4 can only be setup under a regular account since it's not intended for kids.

Thanks for stopping by, see you around.

[ComputerDoc]

All the parents have been forced to just create a standard account for each kid in order to use the device we purchased, you just can't benefit from the parent/child features.

[leeannjake]

She will be 13 when she receives her Charge 4 as a gift. That being said, I would still like the ability to monitor her activity and have her set up on a family account. Is there no way to do that w a Charge 4? I understand the legalities for younger children, but once a child reaches the legal age to be able to use other devices, can’t they be set up on a family account?

Sent from my iPhone - please pardon any typos

[qmanning]

Who do y'all think you're kidding? This was by design so parents had to buy new devices instead of passing down our older ones.

This limitation is software only, and could easily be fixed by your developers within a week - but you want to sell your kids device, and rather than making it a more compelling product to validate it's purchase over me simply giving my child my Charge 4 after I upgrade to a Charge 5, you do this junk.

It's a cashgrab and so anti-consumer. Just gross. 

[Starlily42]

It’s hard for me to believe these words are sincere about the team continually working to address our concerns. The submission to allow more on the family account besides Aces is from 2018, and yet it’s now nearly 2022… and it’s still not possible to add anything except Aces? That makes no sense. Are you trying to lose money? If I can’t set up my kids’ Charge 4 devices on a family account, and I can’t set it up for them on their own account without lying about their birthday, then I’m forced to either lie or return the device and get one from a different company. The Ace devices don’t do what we want our kids to be able to have access to. 

[Starlily42]

I completely agree. There’s nothing in the descriptions to suggest that a person has to be 13 to use it or that it can’t be added to a family account. It forces us to lie about the kid’s age if we want to use the product we bought. 

[mmped78]

I also just bought 2 Charge 4 for my 8 and 10 years old kids. Really sad I just see this forum… it is absolutely a bull**ahem** that fit bit hide behind the lows about child protection… it is just a matter of software and then up to the parents to choose the device they want to use for their kids… luckily I’m living in a country where I’m entitled to 30 days minimum open buy, just sad I disappointed my kids for christmas… 

[PawelH]

That request was done first in 2018 and we have a 2021 and Fitbit developers has done nothing about it!!!!! It has 1325 votes for upgrade!! How many do you need to have to get developers attention??

If I knew about that I would carry on with Garmins!!

Not happy about how it is being run with Fitbit.

[Odin1806]

My daughter got a fit bit for Christmas... what was your work around? Anything fancy so I can add her with the correct details?

[Toph]

sadly the work around is that she registers an account as if she is 13 or return the device. Rather than building the app to have parental oversight like so many other apps, fitbit has just opted to block minors and force them into another product they make just for kids.

[Odin1806]

Got it. That's what I am doing as well. Just curious. Thanks!

[Ninu2022]

Has there been any update on this since the original request? I am also facing the same issue and would want to know before I return the charge 4 to the store? It makes no sense at all not be able to add in any type of Fitbit and not only the Ace model. 

[SunsetRunner]

@Ninu2022 no, the position by Fitbit is always the same. Only Ace series can be added to kids less than 13 years old.

[Toph]

no update. you should return it and let the thread know that you did. At some point you would think Fitbit will at least share that they are working to solve the concern.

[Ninu2022]

Thanks, I will return it then since this makes no sense at all, i will find another tracker watch that allows to do so. Seriously @Fitbit, this is not the way to keep customers satisfied or even loyal. 

[SunsetRunner]

Totally agree and in the same situation. The only option I have is lie about the age. What a joke and dissapointment 

[SunsetRunner]

The whole purpose of a fitbit is to track your health. Age is vital information. We are 2022 and still not even on the roadmap. VERY dissapointed

[Toph]

You are missing the point of this thread altogether. Noone doubts you are compliant with COPA. The difference is that unlike competitive products, you are not developing a parent app for use on any devices but Ace. Ace is a subpar product that doesn't meet needs of most athletic children. Then our choice is to buy a proper fitbit and register our child as 13.

How about instead of continuing with this poor template answer you simply acknowledge that Fitbit has no interest in being competitive in this age range. Or even better that you are going to develop a parent app that is applicable to all of your products!

[phasterok]

It is allowable with parental consent under the COPA so long as record of that consent is obtained.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/part-312

[arvindtirkey]

I agree with you. I want to use my old Charge 4 for my daughter (10yrs) but I cannot use it because Fitbit only let us use Fitbit Ace.

This is a shameless business tactic of selling their kid trackers, and future planning of ensuring that kids will grow older and WILL BUY a new Fitbit at the age of 13.  So it is not poor planning, but a very shameless strategic future planning to sell first, their kid trackers, and then sell a regular device. Fitbit is good, but the planners are totally shameless.

Shame on you, Fitbit!! 

Don't make an excuse for Kid's privacy act and BS. A guardian is adding the kid under their account, how will that release information, etc. about the kid elsewhere?