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This story sounds like the plot of a bad kid’s movie, but it’s true—and terrifying.
While we all agree that too much technology for kids is no good, in this case, a smartwatch saved this boy’s life. A 9-year-old from Saratoga Springs, Utah, used his smartwatch with a built-in GPS to call his parents while in the middle of an alleged abduction in August 2016.
According to the boy, he was walking to a friend’s apartment in the neighborhood when he says a man got out of his car and charged at him. The alleged abductor threw the boy into the backseat of the car after he tripped and fell while trying to run away. The boy jumped from the SUV a few blocks away when the car stopped in a parking lot.
The boy says he hid and ran behind a grocery store, and at that point turned to his smartwatch, called the GizmoGadget. This version of the smartwatch from LG lets kids make and receive calls from up to four people, and it’s likely the reason he is unscathed today. After the boy’s stepfather answered, he was back with his family within minutes.
Police are taking the situation very seriously and are still searching for the subject in question. They’re asking for the public’s help in finding him. He is being described as a white man with long black hair and a goatee. He was driving a tan, late ’90s Chevy Tahoe.
Meanwhile, one 9-year-old boy is urging others to buy a smartwatch too. This is one tech trend we can get behind.
Here are some other kid-friendly smartwatches currently on the market:
VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch
While the Kidizoom doesn’t feature calling functionality, it offers kids a number of games, the ability to making video and voice recordings and take photos, a calculator and more.
Get it on Amazon for $58.
Orzo Kids Bluetooth Phone Pairing Smartwatch
This watched can be synced to a mobile phone number, but the neat part is that it only allows incoming calls (so your kiddo can answer when grandma calls) not outgoing. The Orzo offers games, a camera and more.
Get it on Amazon for $44.
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DokiWatch
This fully equipped smartwatch is recommended for kids 6 and older. It comes with GPS, Wi-Fi, text messaging, a built-in camera for video calls, plus games and more.
This one retails for $199.
