Samsung is tightening privacy for younger users. Samsung will discontinue the Together feature in Samsung Health for anyone under 18, effective with a new app version rolling out later this month.
All Together-related data for affected users will be deleted from Samsung’s servers. The move aligns with youth data protection laws across multiple countries. Why risk social exposure when privacy is the priority?
What’s Changing—and When
The update removes access to Together for non-adult accounts on Galaxy phones and tablets. Adults keep full access.
- Applies to users under 18 only.
- Takes effect with the next Samsung Health release.
- Server-side data deletion accompanies the cutoff.
Think of it as removing the leaderboard from a school track meet—fitness continues, but without public scoreboards. Is quieter progress sometimes healthier?
Why Samsung Is Doing This
Samsung cites improved privacy for minors. Social features amplify data sharing—friends, teams, challenges—raising compliance risks.
- Regulatory alignment across regions.
- Reduced social visibility for minors’ activity data.
- Clearer age-based boundaries inside the app.
For CTOs, this mirrors a broader industry shift: default-to-private for youth, opt-in social layers for adults. Should social fitness ever be the default for teens?
What Is the Together Feature?
Together turns fitness into a game. Users compete in walking or running challenges, set by step counts or distance, solo or in teams.
- Create individual or group challenges.
- Track progress against friends or family.
- Boost motivation through friendly competition.
Adults retain access, keeping engagement high without expanding minors’ data footprints. Can motivation thrive without comparison?
How to Check Your App Version
Open Samsung Health and navigate to Settings > Samsung Health information to confirm your version and upcoming changes.
TL;DR
Samsung will remove the Together social fitness feature from Samsung Health for users under 18, deleting associated data. The change, rolling out later this month, strengthens privacy compliance. Adults keep access, while minors continue core health tracking without social competition.
AI summary
- Together removed for users under 18
- Data deletion for affected accounts
- Change rolls out later this month
- Adults retain social challenges
- Privacy and regulatory compliance drive decision
