Starting June 23, the operator will be the first in France to market a deliberately restricted smartwatch for children. With the Kids Watch, the idea is to delay the age of the first smartphone as much as possible while meeting the legitimate need for autonomy for young children and peace of mind for parents. A sort of digital decompression chamber.
Despite these limitations, this watch is not a gadget and stands as a "responsible" alternative to the smartphone. It's a real communication tool, but one whose parents keep the keys. Forget YouTube, TikTok, or web browsers, the Kids Watch, designed by the manufacturer TCL, includes functions designed for children. Only contacts previously validated by parents via a dedicated application can call or send messages to the child.
A "wrist phone" without the dangers of the Internet
Beyond secure communications, the features are reassuring: a "school mode" that makes it silent and inactive in class, an SOS button to alert in case of an emergency, and above all, geolocation. Parents can thus view their child's position and even define a "safety zone" (the neighborhood, the way to school, etc.) which, if crossed, sends a notification. Enough to ease many anxieties when the school bell rings.
This initiative comes at a pivotal time. With the gradual banning of mobile phones in schools and colleges, this watch could well become the only communication terminal authorized in the playground.
To make its solution accessible, Bouygues Telecom has opted for an all-inclusive package. The watch itself is priced at €1, followed by monthly installments of €4 for 24 months (a total cost of €97). In addition, there is a fixed, no-commitment plan, guaranteeing total absence of over-the-counter payments. It will cost €4.99/month for customers who already have a Bbox and mobile plan, and €9.99/month for others.
Why is Bouygues Telecom launching a smartwatch for children?
"Supporting our children in their first digital steps means giving them the right guidance at the right time," explains Bruno Duarte, Director of Consumer Affairs at Bouygues Telecom. To confirm its desire to delay the age of the first smartphone, the operator points out that children spend between 13 and 24 hours a week in front of screens. At 11 years old, 71% of them own a smartphone and many parents are worried about risks such as exposure to inappropriate content and cyberbullying.
As explained by Le Figaro, the telecom operator's decision is also a good way to try to build family loyalty with this new offer. While the smartphone market is saturated, the watch is an alternative that allows Bouygues Telecom to improve its image. That of an operator "committed to a more responsible digital world".
The thorniest question remains: will this alternative, however sensible it may be on paper, withstand the social pressure of the playground? The bet is bold. By offering a tool that connects to better protect, the operator is not just selling a watch, but a vision: that of a technology that serves humans, and not the other way around. A bet that, if successful, could well set a precedent.
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