There’s a better way for parents looking to limit their kids’ digital footprint and offer better tracking than stuffing an AirTag in a shoe heel. Samsung’s new “kid-friendly smartwatch experience” lets parents set who their kids can text, what apps they can use, and even view their location on Google Maps through their Galaxy Watch.
The features should work with any Galaxy Watch with LTE connectivity, whether the ultra-expensive Galaxy Watch Ultra or last year’s Watch 7.
The watch feature adds to the existing Google Family Link app, letting parents set screen time limits and location alerts for their kids’ phones. If your kid uses one of the Galaxy Watch 7 lines using Wear OS 5 and LTE, you can now use the app to set who your children can call or text while on the watch itself. You can monitor their location through the watch, approve apps, and put it to limit usage during certain times of the day, such as if a kid’s supposed to be neck-deep in a book rather than flicking through their watch.
Google Family Link will let parents block apps even after they’re installed. The watch-centric features will roll out over the coming weeks. Google is also promoting a selection of apps suitable for youth, including a Rubik’s Cube game and Marvel HQ: Groove with Groot. There are a few more kids-friendly watch face apps, like Unicorn Academy and Rebel Girls Watch Faces. Children can still install the full gamut of apps on the Play Store with parental approval.
These watch features are all tied to the Galaxy Watches, at least at launch. We wouldn’t be surprised if they made their way to Google’s own Pixel Watches with LTE connectivity soon enough.
It’s yet another means of limiting screen time for kids, though, of course. Other options for kids-centric wearables, like the Fitbit Ace, are more focused on step tracking and a mix of kid-friendly games. The Apple Watch also has “for kids” features that let you pair your kid’s devices with a single iPhone. This lets adults manage who their children can call, track their whereabouts, and restrict apps during school time.