Fitbit Shuts Down Social Features like Challenges, Adventures, and MORE—But Why?

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 27 March 2023, 10:03 pm

Fitbit's famous social features in the app and wearable are shut down today, and these experiences previously enjoyed by users will no longer be accessible on the platform. The company announced this last month, and yesterday, Monday, March 27, was the last day to access these on the Android and iOS platforms.

Three features will no longer be accessible on the platform including the Fitbit Challenges, Fitbit Adventures, and the Open Group social features that were once in the application.

Fitbit Shuts Down Social Features on the App

(Photo : Walmart)

Fitbit's community post announced the removal of these social features last February, and the company centers on the three features which enable connecting with friends and keeping them in the loop with the smartwatch and its app.

The Challenge feature is an invitation to friends regarding their daily step count, with the app recording this information to share with one's social circle on the app and try to beat each other with their progress.

On the other hand, the Adventures feature is a single-user gamified experience that provides a virtual map that corresponds to real-life settings, focusing on Yosemite National Park.

Lastly, the Open Groups social features will allow users to join different groups to be a part of their circle, expanding more of their connections to the watch. Despite seeing this go, users may still create private groups with friends and family.

All of these are now removed from the Fitbit app and are inaccessible.

Why did Fitbit Remove These Features?

CNET's report claims that these Fitbit features are already in "limited use," and are no longer that relevant for users, with the company aiming to expand more on the different experiences and developments on the app.

Moreover, there are no claims or promises from Google or Fitbit to replace these with similar experiences, but the goal is to streamline the app and what it brings to the world.

Fitbit and its Features Available

One of the famous companies offering a tech wearable for fitness and health needs is Fitbit, and there are many features available from the device to bring one's needs for tracking their statistics and more. One of the most useful features here is the ability to connect your Fitbit app to the Android Health Connect feature, centering on sharing data even when one's wearable is low on battery or forgotten at home.

In terms of health, Fitbit also wants to help you catch an underlying problem in your heart with its Afib (Atrial Fibrillation) feature that would notify a user of any phenomena on their pumping organ. This will help identify if a user has heart arrhythmia, also known as an irregular heartbeat, with the smartwatch capable of detecting it and preventing future problems.

With the many developments of Fitbit, the company aims to expand more on its features and experiences for the public, but that does not come without unloading on some. The recent removal of the social features center on its goals to streamline more of the app, as these were in limited use already, to replace with upcoming ones soon.