Janice R. Andrews
By promoting its smartwatch as a tool that helps parents remain in touch with their kids, Apple hopes to increase sales of the wearable technology. A new marketing effort from the tech giant was observed by CNBC, and it coincides with the growing number of schools considering the possibility of outlawing smartphones in the classroom due to worries about how the gadgets might be distracting or, more broadly, harm students’ mental health.
On its brand-new website, “A Great Call For Kids,” Apple describes how parents can set up their cellular-enabled Apple Watch to track their child’s whereabouts and provide them with a messaging or phone call feature.
The company states on its website that you can “set up any Apple Watch with cellular for your kids, even if they don’t have their own iPhone.” “Simple to text and call.” Recognize their location. Great activities to keep them engaged. For them, it’s independence. and mental tranquility for you.
It is also possible to outfit the Apple Watch with a variety of kid-focused functions. For instance, Apple states that “notifications and apps are restricted during school hours” thanks to a feature called Schooltime. When it is activated, parents and educators can quickly identify the unique yellow circle on the watch face as indicating that Do Not Disturb is activated and app access is limited. Parents can also program their iPhone’s schedule to automatically switch the Apple Watch into school mode during designated hours for convenience.
In addition, parents can receive alerts when their children arrive at school or home via the Find My app, which displays the exact location of the Apple Watch user. Apple hopes that an Apple Watch might serve as a suitable substitute for a smartphone if a parent believes their child is too young for one or if their child attends a school where they are prohibited.
An increasing number of educational institutions are considering implementing new policies that limit or forbid the use of smartphones on campus. As noted by CNBC, public schools in New York City and Los Angeles are also considering measures to restrict smartphone use, while Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin just this week gave the state instructions to create guidelines for smartphone-free classrooms.
Furthermore, educational organizations around the world are taking strong action against students using smartphones in class. News of one of the most prestigious schools in the United Kingdom imposing a smartphone ban on incoming 13-year-old students in September surfaced earlier this week.
Apple’s Creative Method
Parents who are worried about their children’s smartphone use may find the Apple Watch to be a good substitute. The campaign emphasizes a number of important aspects:
- Spatial Monitoring: The Find My app allows parents to monitor their child’s location. They can feel secure knowing where their child is at all times thanks to this.
- Mode of School Time: This mode helps kids stay focused on their studies by limiting their access to notifications and apps during school hours. Teachers and parents get a strong visual clue that the mode is engaged thanks to the watch face’s characteristic yellow circle.
- Features of Communication: With the Apple Watch, kids can communicate with their parents via text and phone calls, saving them time and effort by doing away with the need for a smartphone.
Prospective Market
Apple’s timing is perfect, as smartphone bans are becoming more common. By presenting the Apple Watch as a vital tool for kids’ safety and communication, the company is reaching out to a rising number of parents who are looking for smartphone alternatives. In line with Apple’s larger health and wellness objectives, the gadget not only acts as a communication tool but also promotes physical activity through a variety of fitness tracking functions.
Additionally, this campaign has the potential to greatly increase Apple Watch sales, particularly among households with school-age children. In addition to addressing a specific issue—school smartphone bans—it offers a workable solution that satisfies the requirements of both parents and kids.
Apple is strategically targeting a certain market with its marketing push to replace smartphones in schools with the Apple Watch. Apple portrays itself as a leader in creative solutions for contemporary parenting difficulties by addressing parental worries about smartphone prohibitions and offering a gadget that provides safety, communication, and focus during school hours. The need for substitutes like the Apple Watch is anticipated to increase as more schools impose smartphone bans, which will be advantageous to both parents and kids.
