Apple Watch Series 6 is coming with watchOS 7 and they introduced a new feeature called Family Settings. Apple wants kids to use their smartwatch too. It is a new family mode that will allow you to configure the Apple Watch from your iPhone, you can talk with children on the phone, text them and track their location.
Family Settings can be understood as a parental mode for the Apple Watch. The idea of the new option is that you don’t need another iPhone to configure the smartwatch and you will be able to communicate with children. You can take advantage of applications such as Maps or Siri. With this new tool parents will be able to get in touch with their children and see their location while their personal data is kept encrypted.
Family Settings details
With Family Settings, the iPhone of father or mother will be used to connect the Apple Watch of the children (you can connect more than one). With this option, you can make and receive phone calls, use FaceTime, send emails and messages and talk each other with Walkie-talkie.
Of course adults can use this feature too, but the main idea is to be able to reach the kids all the time.
With Family Settings, each user will have their own phone number on separate data plans. Family events can be created, organized with reminders, photos synchronized. And even with Apple Cash, parents can send money to their children to spend through Apple Pay. And you will receive a notification on your mobile when your children buy something.
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The location of a family member can be shared with the person in charge through the Find People app on Apple Watch. Family Settings will include a lesson mode, so the kids can stay focused. In this mode there will be a yellow circle, where you can shutdown the smartwatch for certain times, such as exams.
To entertain the little ones, Family Settings includes the new Memoji app on Apple Watch, where you can create a Memoji.
Family Settings will be available starting September 16 as a free update. It will be compatible with Apple Watch Series 4 and later version. Apple Watch SE with watchOS 7 will recieve this feature too. But it will be necessary to have an iPhone with iOS14 to use this feature.
