Samsung Health, a well-known fitness and health tracking application for Galaxy devices, is cautiously venturing into family health monitoring.
According to Android Authority, Samsung is preparing a feature that enables users to share their health data with others, such as parents or caregivers who need to monitor children or elderly family members.
Privacy Considerations and Control
Although this raises privacy concerns, Samsung appears to be adopting a careful approach. Users will reportedly have detailed control over what information is shared, with the option to halt sharing entirely whenever they wish. Additionally, safeguards are in place to ensure only authorized individuals can access the data.
Device Requirements and Consent
Screenshots indicate that children (or elderly users) will need a Galaxy phone to share data from their Galaxy Watch. This requirement likely aims to tie users into Samsung’s ecosystem, necessitating full investment in the brand’s hardware for this specific feature.
Regarding children's health data, explicit consent from a parent or guardian's account is reportedly required. There's also an inactivity clause stipulating that if either party remains inactive for 90 days, the data sharing will automatically stop, and the shared data will be deleted.
Future Implementation
The report suggests this feature might not be exclusive to the upcoming Galaxy Ring or Watch. Samsung may initially limit it to newer smartwatches before extending it to older Galaxy Watches.
This new capability positions Samsung Health as a more inclusive health management platform. It remains to be seen how effectively the data sharing will be executed and how users will receive alerts or insights based on the shared information. Nevertheless, this move highlights Samsung’s increasing emphasis on health and wellness within its ecosystem.
