Allow More Fitbit Devices than Ace to Family Account

[thewarden1618]

I am frustrated that I cannot give my Fitbit blaze to my daughter and use the family account. The only device it will allow you to since is the Ace. The Blaze is far better and it would be extremely useful to her. The only way I can have her use the Blaze is to lie about her age and create a single account for her. Please allow other devices on the family account for minors. 

Moderator Edit: Title for Clarity/Added Labels

[JamesNeedsName]

This appears to have been an issue for several years, now. FitBit and Google clearly have no interest in listening to their customers and making the required software changes to allow the parents to make the choice of device while still adhering to privacy laws. I guess I'll be returning the device I got and going with another company that allows parents to make parenting choices.

[Stef123]

Do not completely block the use of for instance Inspire 3 for -13 year olds.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Stef123, thanks for taking the time to share this product feedback about allowing more Fitbit devices to be set up for children on the Family Account with us. Because this product feedback was already requested on this board, I’ve moved your post here. Please support this product feedback by adding your vote, this helps our developers to keep tracking its popularity and demand over time.

[Dduke78]

My child is 11 and wants another Fitbit watch, not Ace. The family account gives us protection but now he doesn't get to have a choice. And, I don't either.

[HappyMomma]

I agree 1 million percent. 

[customer8258]

We are a 100pct Google home

 Pixels, Fitbits, earbuds, Chromebooks, the works. To my surprise, Google failed to add the necessary privacy function in the software so to be compliant they just decided to disable all Fitbits from family linked Google accounts. I use family link to keep my kids safe online. It's not negotiable. 

Fitbit has no business deciding that I can't connect the device to my child phone. It's not their choice. 

The box says it's compatible. I bought fitbit because it's a Google product. All the review sites say the inspire 3 is great for kids and teens. Most of these reviews were paid and sponsored by Google. 

This is the definition of deceptive business advertising.

My son is in cross country track. Guess what? His friends got apple watches. Do you all think the watches from Apple have this problem? Do you think the Garmin has this problem? Only it's a Google problem. 

You have singlehandedly made this entire environment impossible for a parent. The Google environment is no longer family and kids friendly. I can't even convince my spouse and kid we should stay on google anymore and we are trading all out stuff in for iPhones and I watches because after 6 years of problems you still haven't realized that 70m US household are forced to ditch your entire platform because you can't be bothered to do the right thing and make your software honor privacy laws and just decided to disable the whole thing. That is gaslighting everyone in this same situation

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Dduke78, thanks for taking the time to share this product feedback about having more Fitbit devices options to set up in to a family account with us. I noticed this product feedback was already requested on this board, so I’ve moved your post here. Please support this product feedback by adding your vote, this helps our developers to keep tracking its popularity and demand over time.

[LegalEagle1616]

My son is 11 and almost my size. The kids Fitbit was lost & was getting small. He also is allowed on social channels that I monitor. I agree with others that it is the parents’ responsibility to control what features are turned on/accessed and should not be the responsibility of Fitbit to monitor. He likes being active & competing with me on number of steps & I don’t see why this shouldn’t continue.

[RMichl]

What about the New fitbit Ace lte?

Gesendet von Outlook für Android<>

[Justabill]

Hi @LizzyFitbit This request is 6 years old. Soon enough the request will no longer need a supervised account! But I want to keep my 16 year old in family link. When will Google/Fitbit fix this. I bought a useless Inspire 3 for his birthday, as you can imagine there are now two more dissatisfied customers. Is there any response to fix this! Or just waiting for us all to age out?

[JKJELD]

I and many others in the community forum are extremely irritated with the fact that you can only give a "kiddie" device to a teen who is on a family link account. I bought an inspire 3 recently for my 14-year-old and it is basically garbage unless I want to give up my ability to protect them through the family link account. Not acceptable!

[jennyou84]

I had no idea this was a problem with Fitbit. And this has been under consideration since 2020, so obviously, FitBit is not taking this seriously. Fitbit has continued to rip off thousands of families, knowing this is an issue. There is no disclosure that the Fitbit trackers are for adults only and cannot be used for children under 13. This is a horrible business practice, and FitBit is obviously aware of it.

I just bought my daughter an Inspire 2. We could not set it up right away due to family situations getting in the way. I just tried to set it up 42 days after purchase to find out my daughter cannot use it because she is 12. I also cannot return it because it is outside Amazon's 30-day return window, and FitBit support says they can do nothing. Their suggestion is for me to use it, although I already have a Fitbit charge. I am now out of the money I paid for the Inspire 2 and have no tracker for my daughter. I have been a Fitbit user for many years and will switch brands.

[Mamaktrain]

I just got my 13 year old twins Fitbit inspire 3’s to replace their old Aces. I can’t use the existing parent/child setup because the child function only supports Ace models. Why is it somehow better for my teens to have their own Google accounts than for me to manage the devices for them ?

[JKJELD]

Wow.  Ripping off families for over 4 years since they claimed this was on their radar. Great job there!  I see families are top priority.  Same issue as many of you - I have a teen that doesn't want the Kiddie Ace watch.  He wants to be serious about conditioning for football, but because Google is too lazy to program up a path for other devices and the app to "evolve" with a teen - all the non-ace devices are useless in a Family Link environment.  

I was told by "customer service" it was my fault that there was no information on the marketing site for fitbit devices and that as a responsible consumer - I should have known that non-Ace devices would not work or researched it in the community forums.  Really!?  If it doesn't say it in the fine print on the marketing pages - and they are showing a bunch of "younger" people wearing it - why should I assume that!?

But "customer service" did have a great suggestion.  When asked what I should do with the device - they replied that I should send it to the nearest Electronics Waste Handling company rather than try to get a refund.  I shared the comment in my customer service review and on several product reviews - no response from the Alphabet Soup Company!  

Another product for the Google graveyard.  I (and my family) will be buying Garmin next unless Google wants to get serious about customer service.  HA!

[Mcav75]

It would be really good if Google could implement this suggestion instead of leaving it on the pile.

[F_Smith]

I am beyond furious with the indifference and disregard that Google is treating its customers by not providing any justification for something that clearly angers so many of its loyal customers.

I have just paid $150 for a Inspire 3 for my son, which is a lot of money for me. Nowhere on the packaging does it say that a child cannot use it. 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @JKJELD, thanks for sharing this product feedback about being able to set up other Fitbit devices to the family account with us. This idea was already requested in this board, so I’ve moved your post here. This will help us to make sure the product feedback shared here doesn't get confused, or split a popular vote. Please click on the thumbs-up to show your support.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Mamaktrain, thanks for taking the time to share this product feedback about allowing other Fitbit devices to be set up in a family account with us. I noticed this product feedback was already requested on this board, so I’ve moved your post here. Please support this product feedback by adding your vote, this helps our developers to keep tracking its popularity and demand over time.

[Gimli220]

100% agree. My 11 year old was given one as a gift and he can’t use it with his phone because he has a supervised account. He’s 5’4” and 150 pounds. From a physical standpoint, he’s adult sized, and trying to exercise more, so being able to track heart rate and activity was a big plus. Now it only works when he’s with me and can sync with my phone. Definitely seems like if they wanted to Fitbit could design a workaround. 

[MarioSFitbit]

Hi everyone, and thanks so much for sharing this Product Feedback! While we don’t currently have plans to release this feature, we always appreciate the passion and creativity that comes out of this Community. Since we know this idea is important to many of you, we have left voting open to continue tracking interest and will post another update if anything changes. To learn more about how Fitbit decides which product feedback is developed, visit our FAQs.

We're always striving to enhance Fitbit products and services, and your input is a big part of that process. We truly thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.

[LilMsAvi]

My daughter received a versa4 as a gift and is unable to use it because she a "child" under Google Family. I have read many other topics and forums and help chats and all ages of children, oldest was 16!, are unable to use any other devices other than what Google allows. Which is only Ace devices. And the Lte devices require an extra subscription!

[Odyssey13]

Hi @LilMsAvi  check out the  Children's Online Privacy Protection Act 

[LilMsAvi]

What does this Act have to do with Fitbit / Google allowing all watch
devices be used in a child's account? I didn't say to withhold age or
information. If that has to be done in order for these devices to be used
by a child on a child account then that is exactly what the problem is to
be addressed. Fitbit /Google needs to find a way to enable these devices to
be used on a child's account wth the ability for the parent to be in
control. Currently Google is in control of the parents by only allowing
certain devices to be used. Then to have the parents purchase a
subscription for use of features currently free on any other watch device
for an adult. Parents should have the ability to see and control all
devices without having to additionally subscribe
Just as any device can be used as a phone under Google's Family link
feature.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @LilMsAvi, thanks for sharing this product feedback about being able to connect other Fitbit devices aside from the Ace series to a Family Account with us. This idea was already requested in this board, so I’ve moved your post here. This will help us to make sure the product feedback shared here doesn't get confused, or split a popular vote. Please click on the thumbs-up to show your support.