Apple users are frustrated with the malfunctioning parental controls, according to a CEO with 4 kids.

Apple users are frustrated with the malfunctioning parental controls, according to a CEO with 4 kids.

Apple’s Parental Controls: Failing Families or Just a Glitch?

Parents relying on Apple’s parental controls have been left frustrated and disappointed, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. This issue has been acknowledged by Apple, with promises to make updates to improve the situation. However, complaints about problems with Apple’s parental controls, particularly in relation to Downtime and Family Sharing, have been circulating on Apple forums since 2020.

When Apple introduced Screen Time in 2018, parents were excited about the ability to restrict apps and limit screen time on their children’s devices. Using their own Apple devices, parents could have some control over how much time their children spent on iPhones, iPads, and iPods. But now, families are experiencing issues where the changes they make to the settings are not being implemented, resulting in their kids having extra time on apps or even unrestricted access to adult content.

“We are aware that some users may be experiencing an issue where Screen Time settings are unexpectedly reset,” said an Apple representative. “We take these reports very seriously and we have been, and will continue, making updates to improve the situation.”

Apple attempted to address the issue with the release of iOS 16.5 in May, mentioning that the update would fix the problem of settings not syncing across all devices or being reset. However, it remains unclear when this issue first arose, as complaints about parental control problems can be traced back to 2020 on Apple discussion pages.

Users have expressed their frustration with the situation. One user wrote, “I’ve used screen time for my kids to limit time on certain apps. It worked well for years, but now I will set the limits, and then they will suddenly disappear after a day or even less.” Other users in the same thread mentioned struggling with this issue for months, even reaching out to Apple for assistance.

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Mark Rowe, a CEO based in Boston, discovered that one of his four children had no limits on their access to adult websites when he checked the Family Sharing settings. He expressed his frustration to the Journal, stating, “It’s frustrating that something that’s so simple and should work doesn’t. How much time can I spend on this every week?”

In April, Apple CEO Tim Cook advised parents to set “hard rails” on their children’s screen time and has previously voiced concerns about technology usage in schools. However, it seems that even with Apple’s parental controls, parents are left grappling with the challenges of effectively managing their children’s screen time and access to age-appropriate content.

Despite multiple reports and complaints, Apple has yet to respond to a request for comment from Insider. This lack of immediate response leaves affected families in a state of uncertainty and frustration.

In conclusion, Apple’s parental controls have become a source of disappointment for many families. With promises of updates to improve the situation, it remains to be seen if Apple can deliver a solution that not only addresses the current issues but also provides a reliable and effective means for parents to manage their children’s device usage and online activities. Until then, families will continue to face the challenge of striking a balance between embracing technology and ensuring their children’s well-being in the digital age.

• Apple
• Parental Controls
• weekend BI US