Just when you thought parenting tech couldn’t get any more Black Mirror, Skechers said, “Hold my juice box.” The sneaker giant has rolled out its brand-new Find My Skechers line—kids’ shoes with a secret compartment specifically designed to hide an Apple AirTag.

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Yes, you read that right. The same tracker you might use to find your lost keys can now be used to locate your wandering 5-year-old. Forget helicopter parenting—this is full-blown drone surveillance with stylish laces.

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The Pitch:

Skechers is marketing the shoes as a safety feature for “peace of mind” in places like Disney World, shopping malls and anywhere else kids mysteriously develop Olympic sprinting speed the second you blink. Pop an AirTag in and if your child wanders off, you can track them on your phone in seconds.

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The Reality:

Parents online are divided into two camps:

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• Camp YES: These are the people who have seen their kid vanish behind the ball pit in under three seconds. They’re thrilled at the idea of playing “Find My Child” without causing a scene over the PA system. One mom commented, “If it keeps my kid safe, call me Big Brother. I’ll even get matching sneakers.”

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• Camp NO: These folks think the shoes are less “peace of mind” and more “trust issues in shoe form.” Critics worry the constant tracking will turn kids into paranoid little fugitives. (“Why does Timmy keep checking for helicopters in the sky?”) Privacy advocates also warned that, in the wrong hands, the AirTag could be misused by strangers—AKA the exact opposite of “safety.”

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The Bigger Question:

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Are we protecting our kids, or are we slowly raising a generation who thinks a GPS signal is just part of being alive? Some say this is modern parenting adapting to modern dangers. Others think it’s just another product that plays on parental fear and sells it back to us in a shoe box.

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Meanwhile, Skechers is Probably Thrilled.

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Whether you love it or hate it, everyone’s talking about these sneakers. Parenting blogs, tech sites and Facebook mom groups have turned the launch into a mini culture war. And let’s be honest—some parents are already eyeing them for their spouse. (“Honey, it’s for your safety, I swear.”)

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In a world where kids already know how to swipe an iPad before they can tie their own shoes, maybe AirTag sneakers are just the next logical step. Or maybe they’re a sign we’ve all officially lost it. Either way, if you see a toddler in Skechers glancing suspiciously at their feet… don’t worry. They’re probably just wondering how far they can get before Mom’s phone pings.

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