Apple is wading into the ongoing debate among parents about when and how to introduce children to technology,particularly smartphones. The tech giant has launched a new webpage promoting the Apple Watch as a potential alternative to a traditional phone for kids.
The program, dubbed “Apple Watch for Your Kids,” highlights the Family Setup feature, which allows parents to manage an Apple Watch paired with their child’s iPhone. It touts various benefits of the Apple Watch for children, including communication features like calls and texts, safety features like Find My, and entertainment options like music streaming.
A standout feature for parents is Schooltime mode, which can be controlled remotely from a parent’s iPhone. This mode essentially acts as a Do Not Disturb setting, ensuring kids stay focused in class. Apple also emphasizes the watch’s durability and workout tracking capabilities, though the latter might seem excessive for some children.
Notably, an Apple Watch with LTE connectivity doesn’t require a paired iPhone for most functions after the initial setup,offering kids a degree of independence while still allowing parental oversight.
The webpage specifically recommends the Apple Watch SE 2 as a “starter” smartwatch for kids, due to its lower price point compared to other models. However, it clarifies that any Apple Watch Series 4 or later with cellular capabilities is compatible with the program.
This move by Apple comes amid rumors of a potential new SE model release later this year, possibly coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 16 lineup. While some parents might welcome the idea of a smartwatch as a less-intrusive alternative to a full-fledged smartphone for their children, others might question the necessity of such a device at a young age.
The debate over kids and technology continues, but Apple is clearly positioning itself as a player in this evolving conversation.
