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Google releases smart watch for kids

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Re: Google releases smart watch for kids

#491

Post by [deleted] »

stickfigure wrote: post #362
godelski wrote: post #327

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In general I’m struck at how many people’s sense or “right” leans so hard on what’s available for sale. I'm mostly confused how it seems there's pretty significant evidence that helicopter parenting[0] has resulted in poor outcomes for kids[1] but then we act as if the reason it fails is because we aren't paying __enough__ attention. I am sympathetic to parents wanting to protect their kids, but if the objective is…

I object to the idea that putting a smartwatch on your child is helicopter parenting. It can be exactly the opposite - if a little piece of technology allows kids to roam farther unsupervised, then it fosters independence. I have never been accused of overparenting, yet I preordered one of these google watches. I expect to use it on outings like amusement parks and ski trips. We'll see how it goes.

[deleted]

Re: Google releases smart watch for kids

#492

Post by vasco »

bdd8f1df777b wrote: post #360
Workaccount2 wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get this, I have an uncanny memory of my youth and have clear memories of the fear that ran through me when I realized I didn't know where Mom was. However, I think this belief that humans evolved to be so sensitive to childhood trauma is incredibly over sensationalized. I'm no worse off in life despite getting lost a few times. Your kid will be fine.

> However, I think this belief that humans evolved to be so sensitive to childhood trauma is incredibly over sensationalized. I'm no worse off in life despite getting lost a few times. Your kid will be fine. If that is true, then you cannot say that tracking your child's every step will traumatize them permanently either.

I don't think people are saying it does. It doesn't cause trauma, just causes overdependence on "someone watching over me", as well as a diminished sense of the value of privacy.

Re: Google releases smart watch for kids

#493

Post by crucialfelix »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #106

Ugh, I threw up a little in my mouth just from the headline. This constant tracking of kids is unnecessary and dangerous. Generations of kids survived without their parents needing to know their location at all times. And yes, I totally admit, some kids (very few actually depending on the locale) didn't survive. But we've traded this false sense of "safety" for kids that are so risk averse it is seriously negatively…

One of my favorite Black Mirror episodes, Directed by Jodie Foster. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkangel_(Black_Mirror)

> Arkangel, an implanted technology which allows Marie to track Sara's location, current vision and hearing

Re: Google releases smart watch for kids

#494

Post by vasco »

locococo wrote: post #245
Workaccount2 wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get this, I have an uncanny memory of my youth and have clear memories of the fear that ran through me when I realized I didn't know where Mom was. However, I think this belief that humans evolved to be so sensitive to childhood trauma is incredibly over sensationalized. I'm no worse off in life despite getting lost a few times. Your kid will be fine.

Parents have a lot to contend with as it is. Making live easier by preventing the temporary loss of a child and the anxiety for both parties is a benefit. If anything this gives kids more freedom, anyone not understand this should have a set of kids first.

Well if you decide to create rules to remove freedom and then say "you can only get your freedom back with this device I'll force you to wear" and call that "more freedom", we have different definitions. You could let them go to the same places they will go with the watch already, you were the one limiting freedom, not the absence of a watch.

Re: Google releases smart watch for kids

#496

Post by vasco »

l33t7332273 wrote: post #490
vasco wrote: post #478

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your no nonsense suggestions aren't appreciated, we like sending our kids locations to the NSA in real time here.

Is there any reason to suspect that tracking apps like find my are correlated with government surveillance?

For years the government used cell phone data to track locations without it being known. Why wouldn't they use a more reliable way of doing it? Is there any reason to NOT suspect it?

Re: Google releases smart watch for kids

#497

Post by scotty79 »

matrix87 wrote: post #457
khazhoux wrote: post #316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This constant tracking of kids is unnecessary and dangerous. Generations of kids survived without their parents needing to know their location at all times. This topic is always so alarmist. I have kids and a spouse. We all have Find My and Location Sharing on our phones. I don't FrEaK oUt that my kids are going to die if I'm not tracking their every movement. But it's nice to glance at Find My app and see if the k…

> I don't FrEaK oUt that my kids are going to die if I'm not tracking their every movement. I find it kind of hard to believe that they just happen to have location sharing on without any sort of incentive I'm not sure what's worse: enforcing that outright or having them see that level of invasion of privacy as normalized

> I find it kind of hard to believe that they just happen to have location sharing on without any sort of incentive

The incentive might be as simple as not being bothered by a phonecall from a parent.

I'm sure most kids would be delighted to wear a brick if it reduced the stupid "where are you?" phonecalls by 90%.

Or even a small bacpack if it had a satiety sensor and cut out "have you eaten?" phonecalls as well.

Re: Google releases smart watch for kids

#498

Post by Larrikin »

scotty79 wrote: post #489
throwaway290 wrote: post #440

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's about consent perhaps?

This is wild. Parents decide where and when their kid eats and sleeps and, what they eat and wear and thousand other very intrusive things, but suddenly when electronic device is involved, consent is required.

Parents decide that for babies. Kids going through puberty that let their parents continue to decide every decision can be an actual abusive relationship. You need to be influencing good behavior, not forcing it at a certain point.

Re: Google releases smart watch for kids

#499

Post by cik »

Where I live, "smart watches" have been a thing for about 5 years now. The reality is that they have a one year life span before the social aspect catches up to them. We wanted to get our son a smart watch, so that he could call us if he needed something, or we could call him to come home; no tracking.

The problem is cohort. Friends have phones. Friends COORDINATE over WhatsApp (not communicate). This means, that in order for him to know that he can hang out with others, he needs a way to be part of that.

Re: Google releases smart watch for kids

#500

Post by karencarits »

stickfigure wrote: post #193
hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #106

Ugh, I threw up a little in my mouth just from the headline. This constant tracking of kids is unnecessary and dangerous. Generations of kids survived without their parents needing to know their location at all times. And yes, I totally admit, some kids (very few actually depending on the locale) didn't survive. But we've traded this false sense of "safety" for kids that are so risk averse it is seriously negatively…

I can only guess you (and most of the other naysayers in this thread) don't have young children. My wife and I have been looking for something exactly like this for our 6yo. I lost him on a ski slope once over a year ago and I think he's still traumatized. He recently was afraid of going on a class trip because he was afraid of getting lost. This isn't for teenagers. It's for kids that are still attached to mama/papa…

Children getting lost can also be in real danger, not only psychologically pain. It's just six month since a seven year old died in Norway after getting lost in the woods; he was hiking with his parents and wasn't off their sight for long, but a large search party was still unable to find him in time. It's rare, but we must also remember that all the "success stories" in this thread suffers from survivorship bias
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