(Credit: Skechers/YouTube)
Skechers has launched a new line of kids’ sneakers that come with a built-in AirTag slot.
The shoe line, called Find My Skechers, was announced earlier this month and offers a hidden pocket under the insole. Parents can place an AirTag in the compartment and track their kids via Apple’s Find My app.
The slot has a lid, and the whole thing is designed in such a way that your kids won’t be able to feel the presence of a tracker, Skechers says in a YouTube ad. The lid also ensures active kids don’t tamper with the AirTag or lose it while out and about.
(Credit: Skechers/YouTube)The sneakers cost anywhere between $52 and $58 and are available in various colors and styles for both girls and boys aged 8 or below. AirTags are not included with the shoes, and they do not feature any AirTag branding, either.
The primary purpose of the new sneakers is quite evidently to help parents track their kids. Skechers, however, is marketing them as a way to “always know where their favorite shoes are.”
It’s no secret that parents have been using AirTags to track their kids, often attaching them to backpacks and jackets. While AirTags don’t have built-in GPS, they work by sending secure Bluetooth signals to nearby Apple devices. These devices then anonymously relay the location to iCloud, which the Find My app uses to let owners track the location.
Though helpful, AirTags have had their fair share of criticism. For example, the batteries used in these trackers are not safe for kids, and Apple was forced to add a warning label.
Stalking was another major issue. Bad actors were dropping AirTags in people’s belongings and tracking them without their knowledge. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Apple for this negligence, though the company has taken action against it by introducing a moving with you alert.