Children’s smartwatches raise concerns about peer pressure, exclusion

When 11-year-old Yu Zexi from Changsha, Hunan province, began describing her smartwatch usage, she spoke with the fluency of a seasoned social media user.

"I've had my smartwatch since second grade — that's over three years now," she said. With more than 70 contacts on her device, she actively participates in her peer social network. "I use it to chat with friends on a WeChat-like function, share updates in my circle of friends, and post photos from my life."

Yet this digital connectivity comes with self-awareness. "It's easy to get addicted," she confessed, recalling a time when she bypassed parental controls. "When my dad disabled my watch functions, I found a way to reactivate them when I got his cellphone during homework time, but he eventually found out and locked it again."

Her classmate Huang Lei has a more controlled relationship with her device. "I only wear my watch on weekends or when I go out alone to (outside) interest classes," she said.

Like Yu, she's well-versed in the watch's social features. "You can post photos, send voice messages, like others' posts — it's essentially a mini-smartphone on your wrist."

But she's also witnessed the social pressures these devices create. "Some classmates will delete you from their friends list if you don't like their posts. It's like a threat to your friendship."

Peace of mind

These young voices offer a compelling window into the complex digital ecosystem that children's smartwatches have created across China.

What began as a simple safety device to make it easier to contact parents has quietly evolved into full-fledged social platforms for young students, creating both new opportunities and unforeseen challenges for children, parents, and educators alike.

For many families, the journey with smartwatches begins with safety concerns. Zhu Yuyan, a mother of a fifth grader at a primary school in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, recounted her son's introduction to the technology.

"His first watch was a birthday gift from his aunt when he was in first grade," she said. An upgrade to a more advanced model in fourth grade came at her son's request. "He wanted the same type that other children in his class had."

Like many parents, Zhu maintains clear boundaries around usage. Her son only wears it during outdoor activities or when attending interest classes, like his youth center programs. He doesn't bring it to school normally, she said.