AirTag Removable Battery Sparks Child Safety Concerns

[Octavius8]

Only USA has this kind of concerns about their children welfare. American parents take this a little too far. How about children putting their mouths on the usb chargers on the wall?, or putting their tongues inside the lighting connector of the phones?, or crawling with their hands and then sucking on them, swallowing coins, etc. Children are curious, not stupid. They will not swallow a battery just “because”.

 

[Macintosh IIvx]

Can anyone confirm how easy it is to get the battery out?

Frome everything I've seen review-wise, it's difficult. iFixIt noted that the Square and Samsung trackers are both much easier than the AirTags, which take a decent amount of work. Kids are really really going to have to work at it if they want to get the battery out of these. It's not something a 5 year old is just going to do by accident.

 

[WitchDrAsh2]

Only USA has this kind of concerns about their children welfare. American parents take this a little too far. How about children putting their mouths on the usb chargers on the wall?, or putting their tongues inside the lighting connector of the phones?, or crawling with their hands and then sucking on them, swallowing coins, etc. Children are curious, not stupid. They will not swallow a battery just “because”.

Except they do. There have been enough children seriously harmed by watch style batteries that as parents here in the UK we were explicitly warned when both our first and second child arrived about the dangerous nature of these batteries in particular. They have their uses, and properly enclosed in an secure battery housing they're fine, unfortunately the AirTag doesn't sound that secure.

 

[portland_bill]

Only USA has this kind of concerns about their children welfare. American parents take this a little too far. How about children putting their mouths on the usb chargers on the wall?, or putting their tongues inside the lighting connector of the phones?, or crawling with their hands and then sucking on them, swallowing coins, etc. Children are curious, not stupid. They will not swallow a battery just “because”.

The article is literally about Australia.

 

[BreakingKayfabe]

What a world we live in. Growing up in the 90’s nearly all my electrical devices had removable batteries. I guess nowadays millennial parents want to shield their precious gen-z children from god-damn everything.

“Billy, don’t go play outside today. The ultra-violet rays from the sun can cause you harm!”

 

[Dented]

What a world we live in. Growing up in the 90’s nearly all my electrical devices had removable batteries. I guess nowadays millennial parents want to shield their precious gen-z children from god-damn everything.

“Billy, don’t go play outside today. The ultra-violet rays from the sun can cause you harm!”

Gee I wonder what might have happened in the nineties to cause most regulators (and manufacturers) to ensure button cell batteries are now harder to remove.

 

[bwayne]

My no-contact thermometer uses one of these batteries, and the battery compartment is not secured with a screw. Just a small clip that can be simply pressed to pop the lid off.

So these things are definitely out there.

There’s a big difference between some small sweatshop in China and Apple though.

 

[himanshumodi]

off to r/kidsare****ingstupid to check who's swallowed airTags....

 

[1258186]

There is a very good reason why countries have laws protecting young children from potentially harmful products. Apple should withdraw AirTags immediately while they modify the design.

 

[BreakingKayfabe]

Gee I wonder what might have happened in the nineties to cause most regulators (and manufacturers) to ensure button cell batteries are now harder to remove.

Absolutely nothing happened.
They’re harder to remove because it will get us to buy new instead of trying to replace a battery.

 

[bwayne]

Speaking of removing the cover - don't you think it's a slightly un-Apple feeling, the push and twist? There's no visual or tactile feedback, either to tell you you've pushed enough, or to tell you you've turned enough (or indeed are turning the right way), since it slipping against your skin feels quite similar to it turning). Could have done with some ridges internally to make a clicking feeling when you push/release, and another for when it locks/unlocks, I think.

It’s designed with the same tactile feedback of their keyboards - None.

 

[1258186]

It’s sickening to read how many people have expressed a wilful disregard for child safety in this forum. I knew Apple fans were extremists and willing to support everything Apple does but this is beyond the pale.

 

[Dented]

Absolutely nothing happened.
They’re harder to remove because it will get us to buy new instead of trying to replace a battery.

Absolutely nothing aside from all the documented injuries and deaths that is.

Injuries from Batteries Among Children Aged <13 Years — United States, 1995–2010

www.cdc.gov

Incidentally you’ll note that amongst the thousands of injuries documented by the CDC, most of the actual deaths occured with large flat 3v button cells - like the CR2032.

 

[deeddawg]

Well I'm certainly dissing you for not reading what I actually wrote...

Oh I read it in its self-righteous entirety. Anyone disagreeing with you is either not a parent or is an accident-waiting-to-happen.

If you meant something different from what you wrote, that's on you.

 

[ElectricPotato]

Coins are dangerous, pencils, many more things in households.

You made me think of EletricLarryland, ouch.

 

[mazz0]

Simps of the west unite

What's a simp? Is that a type of whole for collecting water?

 

[mannyvel]

More glue!

Seriously, isn't this a problem with every replaceable battery? And this product isn't for kids anyway. I mean, hearing aids have the same issue.

 

[mazz0]

It’s designed with the same tactile feedback of their keyboards - None.

The TouchBar too - I always thought a lot of people's issues with that would have been helped hugely by Taptics.

 

[cmaier]

Well, it would be nice if they offered a choice - non-replaceable and replaceable. There'd certainly be a market for non-replaceable. And it'd be better than having a more complex locking mechanism for the battery or a screw.

So that’s 2 versions.
But make it 4 - i should have a choice of black or white for each.
Make it 6 - the ones with removable batteries should have a choice of lockable battery doors or not.
Make it 12 - i should get to choose whether it comes with a built-in hole.
Actually, make it 24 - purple color would be nice.
Actually, make it 48 - i should get to choose whether there is a button that i can press to ring my phone.
Maybe 96 makes more sense - credit card form factor should be my choice.

 

[Dented]

It’s sickening to read how many people have expressed a wilful disregard for child safety in this forum. I knew Apple fans were extremists and willing to support everything Apple does but this is beyond the pale.

Agreed. I love Apple stuff, equally I understand not everyone wants kids (or to be anywhere near them for that matter), but wow. Didn’t think I’d really see the needs of a $29 accessory being put ahead of children.

 

[MN7119]

Yes, let's buy an iBubble so we can place our kids inside so they cannot have access to anything or hurt themselves. What has happened to people? I grew up riding my bike with no helmet, no knee or elbow pads, no nothing. I was just free to ride my bike. Now kids needs all sorts of protections and the only thing they don't learn is how to ride a bike. Same goes for everything around them. They can eat coins, they can eat bugs, they can eat dirt. Just take care of your kids, teach them what is right and what is wrong and stop blaming everyone else. The world has become a boring place.

 

[consumerDan]

Most replacement CR2032 and other coin batteries from Duracell (possibly others?) usually have a bitterant coating so if a child does try to place it in their mouth, it won't stay there very long.

I have three kids. If it's a huge concern, then do not buy AirTags.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

This actually makes sense. With a keychain around it, it's significantly harder for a toddler to take apart. But sold as-is, it's rather simple to get to the battery. Maybe the solution is to sell it with a holder, and not as a stand alone product?

 

[bwayne]

Well it’s not like they didn’t have room in the design to put a tiny screw - Apple is particularly good at that too.

 

[Dented]

Most replacement CR2032 and other coin batteries from Duracell (possibly others?) usually have a bitterant coating so if a child does try to place it in their mouth, it won't stay there very long.

I have three kids. If it's a huge concern, then do not buy AirTags.

And if I come around to your house with an airtag on my keys or bag you’ll know about that right?