Skechers skewered for including secret Apple AirTag compartment to children’ sneakers
Helicopter parenting simply acquired a {hardware} improve.
Skechers has launched a brand new children’ sneaker line — “Discover My Skechers” — with a covert characteristic that’s elevating eyebrows: a hidden compartment underneath the insole, tailored for an Apple AirTag.
This sudden characteristic permits for “straightforward monitoring and luxury of thoughts,” the model’s product web page boasts.
“Hidden compartment underneath the heel of the insole has a screw-tight cowl that comfortably hides the AirTag. Apple AirTag and screwdriver not included.”
From the surface, these Skechers are indistinguishable from the common line — no branding hints on the AirTag hiding inside.
The compartment’s screw-on lid retains the tracker safe, secure from curious toddlers (and would-be pocket thieves). Sizes run from toddlers to eight-year-olds, with costs beginning at $52 — AirTag bought individually.
In principle, it’s a intelligent method for fogeys to find misplaced sneakers. In observe? It’s a approach to observe their children with out them realizing — sparking a web-based brawl over whether or not that is parental peace of thoughts or pint-sized surveillance.
In a video posted to TikTok by @brutamerica displaying the brand new sneakers, commenters have been cut up between security and Massive Brother fears. “This might finish badly or good,” one wrote.
One other argued, “There’s too many children that go lacking with out a hint to fret about normalizing monitoring above the security issue. If the world was a safer place we will speak in regards to the issues of normalizing monitoring all day… nevertheless it’s far too harmful to fret about that.”
“That is really good,” chimed in another person.
“I’m extra apprehensive abt the AirTag’s means to deal with all the traditional child actions (operating, leaping, and so on) whereas not breaking… harm to the AirTag might actually damage a child if it’s of their shoe,” identified another person.
Skechers isn’t the primary model to embrace AirTag accessorizing, however the sneakers would be the most discreet choice but.
Nonetheless, critics see them as a step towards normalizing fixed monitoring — till we’re all sporting GPS-ready clothes by default.
Or, as one Bluesky person summed up the temper: “Why have relationships when you may have dictatorship?”
In different phrases: We’ve gone from “Be house by dinner” to “I do know precisely the place you might be — and so do your sneakers.”
As beforehand reported by The Publish, rising parental anxiousness has already fueled “next-level helicopter mother and father” — some monitoring their college-age children, calling RAs and even contacting professors.
Consultants warn that this fixed monitoring, nonetheless well-intentioned, can stunt independence and resilience, making it tougher for younger adults to navigate life on their very own.
