{"id":82932,"date":"2017-12-14T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-12-15T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=82932"},"modified":"2025-08-13T22:38:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T05:38:04","slug":"smartwatch-for-christmas-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/smartwatch-for-christmas-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"So, Your Child Wants A Smartwatch for Christmas? Here\u2019s What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

My youngest son is a Smartwatch fanatic. At the age of 14, he\u2019s already \u2018progressed\u2019 through much-loved Pebble and Sony devices. Is it a James Bond thing? Sorry 007, I don\u2019t think so. Rather, Mr 14 is a tech-savvy consumer who always \u2018needs\u2019 to have the latest and greatest. Bet you have one of those in your house, too!<\/p>\n

If your child is keen to add a Smartwatch to his or her Christmas list, then please take a minute to weigh up the pros and cons. While these flashy looking devices are a super cool fashion accessory that can help us keep an \u2018eye on our kids\u2019, there are also some risks. So before you put the call into Santa, here\u2019s some points to consider:<\/p>\n

1. Do They Really Need One?<\/h4>\n

Sorry, I have to ask. Smartwatches are like mini computers that do so much more than tell the time. Most Smartwatch apps are also available on your phone. I totally get that Smartwatch apps may be super handy if you\u2019re a runner who needs to manage your heartrate and buy a latte on- route. But does a teen going to and from school \u2013 who also has a smartphone in their pocket \u2013 really need one?<\/p>\n

2. Can They Help Keep Kids Safe?<\/h4>\n

Most Smartwatches come with a built-in GPS tracker<\/a>, so you can monitor the whereabouts of your child. Some models also allow you to set a safe zone that will send you an alert if your child leaves this area. So, yes \u2013 if your child wears a Smartwatch, you will be able to monitor their whereabouts which is very appealing to our \u2018helicopter\u2019 generation of parenting!<\/p>\n

3. What Are The Risks?<\/h4>\n

In recent months, there has been a growing momentum of privacy concerns surrounding the children and the digital space. McAfee Labs has identified the increasing risk to children\u2019s privacy as one of the top threat predictions for 2018.<\/a> They believe organisations will use the digital content generated by children to achieve \u2018app stickiness\u2019 aka engagement and retention which will jeopardise our children\u2019s privacy.<\/p>\n

And they are not alone in their concerns. \u00a0Germany\u2019s Regulator, the Federal Network Agency<\/a>, recently issued a blanket ban on Smartwatches aimed at children<\/a>, describing them as \u2018spying devices\u2019. The agency also issued a strong recommendation to parents who had already purchased such a device to destroy them! In October, the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC),<\/a> also reported concerns<\/a> over the security flaws, privacy concerns and risks posed by unreliable Smartwatch features<\/a>. Here is a summary of their concerns:<\/p>\n