The Times: Beating screen time curbs is child’s play

Children and teenagers are using simple loopholes to circumvent Apple parental controls that are supposed to limit daily screen time, experts say.

They have called for improved, tamper-proof restrictions after details of how to bypass the limits were circulated online.

Apple introduced its screen time controls last year after an open letter from investors said that it was “no secret” that social media and apps accessed on the iPhone and iPad were “usually designed to be as addictive and time-consuming as popular”.

The investors cited studies suggesting that heavy use of electronic devices can have negative effects on children’s mental health and wellbeing.

The tools unveiled by Apple allow parents to set up “down time” periods during which children cannot use apps at all. They can also set limits to restrict the time children spend on particular categories of apps, such as social media or games. Parents can create a parent passcode that must be entered to allow additional screen time or to make changes to restrictions.

The full online article can be found here.