Samsung Health Prioritizes Privacy: Discontinuing Together Feature for Minors

Samsung has officially announced a significant shift in its health ecosystem, focusing on the protection of its younger user base. In a recent update, the tech giant revealed that it is discontinuing the Samsung Health "Together" feature for all users under the age of 18. This strategic move is designed to enhance digital privacy and ensure compliance with evolving global regulations regarding minor safety online.

The change is scheduled to take effect with the latest version of the Samsung Health app, which is expected to roll out to Galaxy smartphones and tablets later this month. According to a notice published within the app, once the update is applied, non-adult users will lose access to the social competitive elements of the platform. Crucially, Samsung has confirmed that all data associated with these younger accounts will be scrubbed from their servers to maintain a clean privacy record.

Enhanced Privacy for the Next Generation

By restricting the Together feature to adults, Samsung is taking a proactive stance on data security. This move ensures that minors are not exposed to public or semi-public leaderboards where their fitness activity might be visible to others. Users who wish to verify their current app status can do so by navigating to Settings and selecting Samsung Health information to see if they are running the most recent version.

What is the Together feature in Samsung Health?

For those unfamiliar, the "Together" feature is a social component of Samsung Galaxy wearables and mobile devices. It allows users to engage in friendly competition with friends, family, or the global community. Challenges can be set based on daily step counts or total distance for running and walking, allowing for both individual "1-on-1" duels and large-scale team challenges.

While the removal of this feature for those under 18 might seem like a loss of functionality, it is a necessary step in the current digital landscape where minor data protection is paramount. Adults can continue to use the feature to stay motivated and make their fitness journeys more interactive and social.

Which age group is affected by this Samsung Health change?

The "Together" feature is specifically being discontinued for all users who are under the age of 18.

Will my fitness data be deleted if I am under 18?

Only the data specifically associated with the "Together" social feature will be deleted from Samsung's servers. Your personal health logs, such as sleep and heart rate, should remain intact.

When will this update be implemented?

Samsung plans to roll out this update as part of the new app version scheduled for release later this month.

Can I still track my steps if I am a minor?

Yes, all standard tracking features like step counting, exercise logging, and health monitoring remain fully functional for all users regardless of age.

Why is Samsung making this change now?

The change is being made to comply with various international laws and regulations that require stricter privacy measures for non-adult users on digital platforms.

🔎 In conclusion, Samsung’s decision to limit the Together feature to adults underscores a growing trend among tech leaders to prioritize user safety over social features. While younger users will no longer be able to compete on global leaderboards, the core health-tracking capabilities of Samsung Health remain as robust as ever. This update ensures that the Galaxy ecosystem remains a safe space for users of all ages to pursue their fitness goals with peace of mind. Stay tuned for the update hitting your device soon.