One Australian store has decided to stop selling the AirTag due to child safety concerns

[The-Real-Deal82]

This post on the University Of Vermont Medical Center's website about button cell battery ingestion is interesting:

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medcenterblog.uvmhealth.org

The bottom line, IMHO, is that these things certainly CAN be dangerous for kids and pets ... and if it's going to be accessible to them, adults are responsible to make sure it is in some sort of a child/pet-proof case.

It would be absurd to say that everything in the world must be child-safe ... Parents have a responsibility ... but certainly it's worth at least pointing the danger out so that people who haven't thought of the danger are aware of it.

Absolutely. I think these threads where so many people, in fact a majority are dismissing the danger, is proof enough there needs to be education on this.

 

[ukms]

Absolutely. I think these threads where so many people, in fact a majority are dismissing the danger, is proof enough there needs to be education on this.

A few people on a macrumors forum is hardly reflective of a majority.

Button batteries and other similar items have been around for years and warnings on products have existed for years ....... you are talking about this as if its some new hidden danger !

The article referenced talks about a childrens department that sees 1-2 patients a year. Without wishing to diminish any danger to a child in my opinion there are far more dangerous articles laying around the average home that need far more care than an AirTag. Stairs, swimming pools, laundry appliances, medicines, cleaning fluids to name a few all pose a greater risk than an AirTag.

 

[Dented]

A few people on a macrumors forum is hardly reflective of a majority.

Button batteries and other similar items have been around for years and warnings on products have existed for years ....... you are talking about this as if its some new hidden danger !

The article referenced talks about a childrens department that sees 1-2 patients a year. Without wishing to diminish any danger to a child in my opinion there are far more dangerous articles laying around the average home that need far more care than an AirTag. Stairs, swimming pools, laundry appliances, medicines, cleaning fluids to name a few all pose a greater risk than an AirTag.

This is such a nonsensical argument; all the ”more dangerous articles” you mention have multiple controls in place to reduce the risk already, they all in fact prove the point that taking greater care around such dangers vastly reduces the number of deaths and injuries.

Even if they didn’t, the argument that “this thing is dangerous, so it doesn’t matter if this other thing is as well” is patently nuts.

As for people seeming unaware of the “new hidden danger” of button cell batteries, just count for yourself the sheer number coming on to this and particularly the other on the subject saying things like “these batteries are too big to swallow”, “no kid would eat these”, “the airtag is more of a choking hazard” and “it’s no worse than a pen cap” etc - all these people are clearly ignorant of the fact that poisoning and soft tissue damage from the battery presents a far greater and more insidious risk than any choking hazard.

 

[ukms]

This is such a nonsensical argument; all the ”more dangerous articles” you mention have multiple controls in place to reduce the risk already,

Interesting on what do you base this ? ...... I don't see multiple controls on medicines or cleaning fluids beyond a multi pressure lid to open the container .... much the same as an AirTag ....... where are the multiple controls in home swimming pools where thousands of kids die each year ?

they all in fact prove the point that taking greater care around such dangers vastly reduces the number of deaths and injuries.

And on what statistic do you base this vast reduction on ?

Even if they didn’t, the argument that “this thing is dangerous, so it doesn’t matter if this other thing is as well” is patently nuts.

Did I say the other doesnt matter ? ...... was just giving some perspective

As for people seeming unaware of the “new hidden danger” of button cell batteries, just count for yourself the sheer number coming on to this thread and the other on the subject saying things like “the airtag is more of a choking hazard” and “it’s no worse than a pen cap” etc - all these people are clearly ignorant of the fact that poisoning and soft tissue damage from the battery presents a far greater and more insidious risk than any choking hazard.

I'm not sure that I'm seeing the 'sheer number' who may not be as well educated in button battery dangers as you are ..... but will grant you there are a few ! ...... much like many things on this forum its a mixture.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

A few people on a macrumors forum is hardly reflective of a majority.

Button batteries and other similar items have been around for years and warnings on products have existed for years ....... you are talking about this as if its some new hidden danger !

The article referenced talks about a childrens department that sees 1-2 patients a year. Without wishing to diminish any danger to a child in my opinion there are far more dangerous articles laying around the average home that need far more care than an AirTag. Stairs, swimming pools, laundry appliances, medicines, cleaning fluids to name a few all pose a greater risk than an AirTag.

You clearly read my post quickly and assumed I was suggesting a majority was reflective of what I am reading here. I was taking about Mac rumours.

Do these dangerous substances not carry warnings then? You’re against putting warnings on AirTag packaging and I can’t for the life of me understand why.

 

[ukms]

You’re against putting warnings on AirTag packaging and I can’t for the life of me understand why.

Am I ? ..... Where did I say that ? please tell me

It would seem that Apple have manufactured AirTags to avoid loose batteries by having a multi pressure release ..... but if the powers that be and regulators (rather than macrumors posters) decide that more needs to be done then I'm quite sure they will do it.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Am I ? ..... Where did I say that ? please tell me

It would seem that Apple have manufactured AirTags to avoid loose batteries by having a multi pressure release ..... but if the powers that be and regulators (rather than macrumors posters) decide that more needs to be done then I'm quite sure they will do it.

If you’re not against putting warnings on packaging then why are you here challenging myself and others and playing down the dangers? What is the point you are making?

 

[LeeW]

Sometimes you have to wonder how people manage to get through a day without having someone to hold their hand if this is suddenly such a big issue but only as a result of Airtags.

 

[MarkC426]

And the world gets more f#%@$ up...... 😆 😆 😆
This is almost as funny as when they stopped selling cMP in Europe coz 'you could put your fingers in the fan'.

My calculator from the 80's has a tiny battery in it, but I never thought how it might taste.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

And the world gets more f#%@$ up......
This is almost as funny as when they stopped selling cMP in Europe coz 'you could put your fingers in the fan'.

My calculator from the 80's has a tiny battery in it, but I never thought how it might taste.

Another adult trying to insinuate toddlers have the same thought process

 

[ukms]

If you’re not against putting warnings on packaging then why are you here challenging myself and others and playing down the dangers? What is the point you are making?

The point I'm making started with criticising Gizmodo for their alarmist and poor journalism (which not surprisingly hasn't gained any mainstream attention beyond a couple of people on here), I do feel that if AirTags were a danger it would have been in mainstream news (perhaps Ive missed it)

You've puzzled me a little bit that you now bleat about packaging ? .... which you hadn't mentioned before telling me I was against it .... Odd.

I've simply and politely been trying to put the dangers of AirTags into a bit of sensible context.

I think most people agree that if you pull an AirTag apart and a kid swallows a battery its dangerous, in the same way that if you pull a car key fob apart the same would happen, there were no warnings on my BMW key fob when i took delivery of my car, but I know well enough not to take it apart and leave the battery laying around.

 

[matrix07]

Sometimes you have to wonder how people manage to get through a day without having someone to hold their hand if this is suddenly such a big issue but only as a result of Airtags.

+1

Sky's always falling it seems.

And before anyone asks, yes I had toddlers.

 

[matt_and_187_like_this]

Don't see any problem here. Just buy your kid an iPhone, so it can know when it's being tracked.

 

[Tenkaykev]

The point I'm making started with criticising Gizmodo for their alarmist and poor journalism (which not surprisingly hasn't gained any mainstream attention beyond a couple of people on here), I do feel that if AirTags were a danger it would have been in mainstream news (perhaps Ive missed it)

You've puzzled me a little bit that you now bleat about packaging ? .... which you hadn't mentioned before telling me I was against it .... Odd.

I've simply and politely been trying to put the dangers of AirTags into a bit of sensible context.

I think most people agree that if you pull an AirTag apart and a kid swallows a battery its dangerous, in the same way that if you pull a car key fob apart the same would happen, there were no warnings on my BMW key fob when i took delivery of my car, but I know well enough not to take it apart and leave the battery laying around.

One of the realisations that dawned on me during my long journey through life was that there’s a group of people who I’d refer to as “ Happy complainers” There’s always something wrong no matter what the circumstances. As a member of a running club we’d occasionally put on a free event. 99% of the people would have a great time and enjoy themselves, there’d always be a few who would find something to moan about. I eventually came to realise that complaining was what made them happy and gave them a sort of “ self worth”, one of my colleagues remarked that if we managed to put on a perfect event then they would moan about that.
My contribution to this thread is to post this observation , happy in the knowledge that someone will moan about it 😉

 

[LeeW]

And before anyone asks, yes I had toddlers.

Indeed, another assumption made by so many on the subject that if you don't agree with them you can't have had children.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The point I'm making started with criticising Gizmodo for their alarmist and poor journalism (which not surprisingly hasn't gained any mainstream attention beyond a couple of people on here), I do feel that if AirTags were a danger it would have been in mainstream news (perhaps Ive missed it)

You've puzzled me a little bit that you now bleat about packaging ? .... which you hadn't mentioned before telling me I was against it .... Odd.

I've simply and politely been trying to put the dangers of AirTags into a bit of sensible context.

I think most people agree that if you pull an AirTag apart and a kid swallows a battery its dangerous, in the same way that if you pull a car key fob apart the same would happen, there were no warnings on my BMW key fob when i took delivery of my car, but I know well enough not to take it apart and leave the battery laying around.

When I support warnings on products how else do you convey such things without putting it on packaging, marketing etc? So because I’ve used the word ‘packaging’ I am somehow changing my viewpoint? Taking the battery out of a key fob requires a tool and is much harder than unscrewing an AirTag. Car keys are object that are regularly dropped and are designed to stay intact when dropped on hard surface. If the battery spilled out after a drop or kids were opening them, the issue would be the same as here.

What is your opinion on medicine bottles with child safe lids? Should it just be a standard easy to open lid because parents should be wise enough to keep such things out of reach? People are generally rather stupid, which is why many many things are designed to limit risk. I don’t think making an AirTag harder to open and putting a warning on the packaging or in the marketing is hysteria. It’s common sense and will remind people of the dangers. It’s not rocket science.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Indeed, another assumption made by so many on the subject that if you don't agree with them you can't have had children.

I either assume people who see no risks with button batteries as persons who either haven’t had children or were a negligent parent. It’s usually one or the other as this sort of risk is very real and has been in the news far too often in recent years.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Sometimes you have to wonder how people manage to get through a day without having someone to hold their hand if this is suddenly such a big issue but only as a result of Airtags.

Only as a result of airtags? What are you taking about?

 

[lordhamster]

I either assume people who see no risks with button batteries as persons who either haven’t had children or were a negligent parent. It’s usually one or the other as this sort of risk is very real and has been in the news far too often in recent years.

As others have pointed out. Button batteries have been around for years and YES they are a danger. But you need to put that danger in context. A warning label on the packaging is a good idea. Not selling the item at all seems like an overreaction. I'd suggest the Australian retailer fire up the label printer, and slap some safety labels across the openings as a precaution.

Literally everyone has keyfobs for things like cars flying around the house (none of which contain a screw to keep the battery compartment shut I might add). Yet somehow the airtags design (modeled after child-safe pill bottles) is vastly more dangerous than your keyfob?

Can you explain to me why the sudden panic in regards to this singular application of 2032 batteries? Where was this uproar over Tile's removable battery? Can you point me to one article talking about the dangers of Tile's batteries, or who refused to sell the tile over battery concerns?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

As others have pointed out. Button batteries have been around for years and YES they are a danger. But you need to put that danger in context. A warning label on the packaging is a good idea. Not selling the item at all seems like an overreaction. I'd suggest the Australian retailer fire up the label printer, and slap some safety labels across the openings as a precaution.

Literally everyone has keyfobs for things like cars flying around the house (none of which contain a screw to keep the battery compartment shut I might add). Yet somehow the airtags design (modeled after child-safe pill bottles) is vastly more dangerous than your keyfob?

Can you explain to me why the sudden panic in regards to this singular application of 2032 batteries? Where was this uproar over Tile's removable battery? Can you point me to one article talking about the dangers of Tile's batteries, or who refused to sell the tile over battery concerns?

Looking at the 3 key fobs for cars in my home and none of them can be opened with your bare hands. They all require a screwdriver or pry tool. Like medicine bottles it’s a measure to prevent easy access. The AirTag can be opened be twisting it anti-clockwise.

I can’t comment on the Tile as I only know of their existence from conversations on here. I don’t know what they look like or anybody who owns one. If the battery is as easy to remove as the AirTag and they don’t carry warnings, then surely my opinion is the same as this topic? I’d be a complete hypocrite if I gave a product I’ve never heard of a free pass based on the same criteria. Have a look and see if articles exist if you wish.

 

[ukms]

When I support warnings on products how else do you convey such things without putting it on packaging, marketing etc? So because I’ve used the word ‘packaging’ I am somehow changing my viewpoint? Taking the battery out of a key fob requires a tool and is much harder than unscrewing an AirTag. Car keys are object that are regularly dropped and are designed to stay intact when dropped on hard surface. If the battery spilled out after a drop or kids were opening them, the issue would be the same as here.

What is your opinion on medicine bottles with child safe lids? Should it just be a standard easy to open lid because parents should be wise enough to keep such things out of reach? People are generally rather stupid, which is why many many things are designed to limit risk. I don’t think making an AirTag harder to open and putting a warning on the packaging or in the marketing is hysteria. It’s common sense and will remind people of the dangers. It’s not rocket science.

I think you are digging yourself a hole but I'll play along !

Both BMW fobs (less than 12 months old) in our home can be opened without tools ...... Im sure they conform with safety regs nevertheless no tool required.

Let me ask you this ..... don't you think that AirTags have been submitted to the various safety regulators in the various markets around the world and have been passed otherwise they would not be allowed to sell them ?

Do you really think that it needs you to point out they are dangerous or need warnings ?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I think you are digging yourself a hole but I'll play along !

Both BMW fobs (less than 12 months old) in our home can be opened without tools ...... Im sure they conform with safety regs nevertheless no tool required.

Let me ask you this ..... don't you think that AirTags have been submitted to the various safety regulators in the various markets around the world and have been passed otherwise they would not be allowed to sell them ?

Do you really think that it needs you to point out they are dangerous or need warnings ?

I wouldn’t imagine for a second a company the size of Apple would put a product to market without putting it through all the required checks. That’s the case for all consumer products, even the ones that later get recalled through safety fears.

My 2012 5 Series used to need a small screwdriver to pry the fob open and the last model 3 series had 2 tabs that needed to be simultaneously pulled to open the key. I’m shocked they’ve gone away from this but my experiences with BMW were incredibly poor anyway. I won’t be buying another one of their cars any time soon.

 

[Dented]

I think you are digging yourself a hole but I'll play along !

Both BMW fobs (less than 12 months old) in our home can be opened without tools ...... Im sure they conform with safety regs nevertheless no tool required.

Let me ask you this ..... don't you think that AirTags have been submitted to the various safety regulators in the various markets around the world and have been passed otherwise they would not be allowed to sell them ?

Do you really think that it needs you to point out they are dangerous or need warnings ?

At the end of the day Apple have screwed up somewhere, because the airtag launch in Australia at least has been marred by not just poor media but the widespread withdrawal of the item by multiple retailers, and inevitable lost sales as a result.

Whichever way you cut it, Apple have misjudged the safety concern, to their own detriment. I rather doubt they proactively submitted Airtags to every regulator in the world and gained formal approval, I think they believe their product is compliant with the relevant regulations, but there is a difference between being compliant and being perceived as (or actually) safe.

 

[Marli]

I doubt apple care that much.. it’s just an issue as the ACCC are so slow at doing anything..

if the take airtags from sale, a whole raft of products will also be removed..

 

[ukms]

At the end of the day Apple have screwed up somewhere, because the airtag launch in Australia at least has been marred by not just poor media but the widespread withdrawal of the item by multiple retailers, and inevitable lost sales as a result.

Thanks for the update …. Clearly I’ve missed all the other media articles and widespread withdrawals….. would you mind posting some of the links to share ?