From time to time, there are public advisories about the hazardous potential of social media on youth mental health. Social media, of course, has some benefits, like social connection, but the risks often outrun the rewards, depending on the individual kid.

One of the few successes I have had is keeping my 13-year-old daughter off social media. Yes, I can feel you saying “good luck” with an eye roll. But hang on, it has been a success.

Here’s the next step: I decided to replace her smartphone, which she uses to discuss, in her parlance, chai or gossip beyond school hours, with an Apple Watch. To be specific, Apple Watch SE (Gen 2, cellular). Let me spare you the suspense: She loves it and doesn’t miss her smartphone as much as I thought she would. Goodbye Roblox.

Apple Watch can keep children connected

A child having the Apple Watch doesn’t mean she needs an iPhone. Stay with me. There’s something called Apple Watch For Your Kids and the idea is to keep in touch with the child minus a phone.

The parent, of course, needs an iPhone to set up the plan. Here’s what I did. I paired the Apple Watch SE (with cellular) in my family plan. The service provider in my case is Jio, which comes with the e-SIM facility. This part is important if you want to ensure cellular connectivity on the smartwatch.

On adding the Apple Watch under Family Watches, there is plenty of granular control over what the kid can do with the device. But let’s talk about this from a child’s perspective.

Once Schooltime mode is turned on, a distinctive yellow circle is displayed on the watch face

Even if my daughter doesn’t have a phone, she can call and text and I can know her whereabouts. It’s about giving her independence while I enjoy peace of mind.

In 2024, children communicate with emoji, Memoji and GIFs. All of these elements are allowed on her smartwatch and even group chats. As a parent, I can add all the numbers she can access on her smartwatch, so she can be in touch with her besties without feeling a pariah. Also, she is able to send a flurry of cat GIFs, which is often the case.

But what I am protecting her from is downloading apps, especially ones for social media, without my permission. I am not the only parent trying to use the smartwatch to stay in touch with my child. More and more parents are buying smartwatches as a “cellphone” for the kids. Further, the miniature screen can tackle issues like Internet addiction.

An important audience for smartwatches

It’s easy to become pessimistic about the march of technology but parents are willing to try out options that come with some kind of framework, like the Apple Watch. It allows a child to explore and it stops parents from being less scared.

In the US, parents are increasingly strapping Apple Watches on the wrists of children. In a 2020 survey of American teenagers by the investment bank Piper Sandler, 31 per cent said they owned a smartwatch. That same year, 21 per cent of adults in the US said they owned one, according to the Pew Research Centre.

Having an Apple Watch definitely reduces the amount of time children spend watching a screen. At the same time, the child can also call if an emergency is to happen. In fact, this point can be taken further.

One aspect of the Apple Watch is keeping the user active. There are certain activity standards that can be set and as a parent, it is always great to know if the child is getting enough exercise. Then there are children who have medical problems and things like heart rate needs monitoring. In case a medical emergency arises, details like allergies and medications can also be shared with caregivers.
Also, I think it is a good idea to give a child a smartwatch before letting them have a smartphone, to see if they are responsible enough.

Apple Watch SE (Gen 2) is perfect for slim wrists

Since smartwatches can have fewer apps, children are less likely to be exposed to distracting games, sexting and other pitfalls. Further, not having a smartphone helps children learn how to do things independently, like completing homework assignments without looking up answers online.

Speaking of homework, there is Schooltime mode. Once turned on, a distinctive yellow circle is displayed on the watch face for teachers and parents to easily recognise, signifying that access to apps is restricted and Do Not Disturb is turned on. Parents can set the schedule on their iPhone so Apple Watch automatically goes into Schooltime during certain hours, or turn it on from Control Center on the child’s watch.

At the same time, children don’t need to miss out on fun. Family members using Apple Watch For Your Kids on Apple Watch can play their favourite songs on Apple Music through Bluetooth headphones and speakers, and ask Siri for answers to questions or language translations.

Even Maps work well. Children, who are old enough and mature, can learn to navigate safely, whether heading to another family member’s house or to a park with friends. A family member’s location can be shared with their guardian through the Find People app on Apple Watch, and location notifications are more customisable, allowing the guardian to receive an update on their family member’s location for one occasion, or on a recurring or time-based schedule.

As for the famous Apple Watch Activity rings, it has been optimised for kids to track Move minutes instead of kilojoules burned. Kids can also send and receive Activity Sharing invitations directly on Apple Watch, challenge friends with Activity Competitions, and see an Awards page so milestones can be celebrated right on their wrist.

Now, a smartwatch cannot guarantee a delay to a smartphone. But it can certainly teach a thing or two about responsibility while parents can feel slightly less worried about their children accessing harmful content.

At a glance

Feature: Apple Watch For Your Kids

Device used: Apple Watch SE (Gen 2, cellular)

Network provider: Jio

Key points

 An Apple Watch can be used by a child minus the iPhone

 Restricted apps and contacts, mean more safety

 Kids can contact parents and friends through messages and calls using the Watch

 A family member’s location can be shared with their guardian through the Find People app on Apple Watch

 School time mode keeps children focused