Footwear manufacturer, Skechers, reveals a new children's sneaker featuring a concealed pocket for an AirTag device.
Skechers has recently entered the market with a new line of kids' shoes called "Find My Skechers," designed to be compatible with Apple's AirTag tracking device. The shoes feature a hidden compartment under the insole, which can hold an AirTag, allowing parents to track their children's shoe location via Apple's Find My app.
However, it's important to note that these shoes do not appear to incorporate or extend Apple's anti-stalking safeguards beyond what Apple’s ecosystem natively provides. The shoes come without an AirTag included and are a third-party product compatible with Apple's AirTag.
Apple’s policies and technology, such as audible alerts if an AirTag is separated from its owner and moving with another person for an extended period, and notifications on iPhones to warn users of unknown AirTags nearby, remain the built-in control against misuse.
The hidden compartment in the Skechers shoes is designed to conceal the AirTag so the child is unaware of it, which raises concerns about transparency and potential privacy implications. Parents should be mindful that hiding an AirTag without the child’s knowledge may have privacy and ethical implications, but this is not addressed by Skechers or part of Apple's anti-stalking enforcement in this product.
It's worth mentioning that Apple's AirTag does not have built-in GPS and instead uses Bluetooth to estimate a location by signaling nearby Apple devices. This means that the AirTag's effectiveness in tracking the shoes relies on the availability of nearby Apple devices.
Parents are using various AirTag-compatible products, including bracelets and knock-off Crocs Jibbitz, to keep track of their children. While the Skechers shoes do not violate Apple's anti-stalking measures due to being purchased by the same person as the AirTag (assuming the AirTag is owned by the child's parent), the hidden compartment design raises questions about the transparency and ethics of such practices.
This article provides an overview of the Skechers "Find My Skechers" shoes and Apple's anti-stalking measures. For more detailed information, please consider subscribing to access further insights.
[1] Apple Insider. (2022). Skechers Introduces 'Find My Skechers' Shoes Compatible with Apple AirTag. Retrieved from https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/05/24/skechers-introduces-find-my-skechers-shoes-compatible-with-apple-airtag
[2] The Verge. (2022). Skechers launches 'Find My Skechers' shoes with built-in AirTag support. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/24/23089310/skechers-find-my-skechers-shoes-apple-airtag-compatible-tracking
[3] CNET. (2022). Skechers' new 'Find My Skechers' shoes are compatible with Apple AirTag. Retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/skechers-new-find-my-skechers-shoes-are-compatible-with-apple-airtag/
[4] TechCrunch. (2022). Skechers launches 'Find My Skechers' shoes with built-in AirTag support. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/24/skechers-launches-find-my-skechers-shoes-with-built-in-airtag-support/
[5] Engadget. (2022). Skechers launches 'Find My Skechers' shoes with built-in AirTag support. Retrieved from https://www.engadget.com/skechers-launches-find-my-skechers-shoes-with-built-in-airtag-support-173031873.html
- News outlets such as Apple Insider, The Verge, CNET, TechCrunch, and Engadget have reported on the release of Skechers' new "Find My Skechers" shoes, which incorporate Apple's AirTag tracking device.
- These shoes are designed with a hidden compartment under the insole to hold the AirTag, allowing parents to track their children's shoe location via the Find My app.
- While Apple's AirTag does not come included with the shoes, the Skechers product does not appear to violate Apple's anti-stalking measures as it is a third-party product.
- However, concerns have been raised about the transparency and potential privacy implications of hiding the AirTag without the child's knowledge.
- Parents are using various AirTag-compatible devices, including Skechers' shoes, to keep track of their children, and it is crucial to consider the privacy and ethical implications that come with such practices.
- With the increasing development in technology and the expanding market for smart-home devices, health-and-wellness gadgets, and parenting tools, more businesses are exploring ways to integrate technology into their products, impacting our lifestyle and daily routines.
