BLUE HILLCO
  • Home
  • Tech
    • 5G
    • Amazon
    • Apple
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cars
    • Facebook
    • Google
    • Microsoft
    • Mobile
    • Policy
    • Privacy
    • Samsung
    • Scooters
    • Tesla
  • Startups
  • Science
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Health
    • NASA
    • Space
  • Creators
    • Adobe
    • Camera Reviews
    • Cameras and Photography
    • Instagram
    • Kickstarter
    • Tumblr
  • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Film
    • Fortnite
    • Game of Thrones
    • SpaceX
    • Gaming
    • TV Shows
  • How To
  • Deals
  • Finance
    • Money
    • Investing
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Credit Cards
    • Insurance
    • Banking
    • Mortgages
    • Taxes
    • Loans
No Result
View All Result
BLUE HILLCO
  • Home
  • Tech
    • 5G
    • Amazon
    • Apple
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cars
    • Facebook
    • Google
    • Microsoft
    • Mobile
    • Policy
    • Privacy
    • Samsung
    • Scooters
    • Tesla
  • Startups
  • Science
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Health
    • NASA
    • Space
  • Creators
    • Adobe
    • Camera Reviews
    • Cameras and Photography
    • Instagram
    • Kickstarter
    • Tumblr
  • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Film
    • Fortnite
    • Game of Thrones
    • SpaceX
    • Gaming
    • TV Shows
  • How To
  • Deals
  • Finance
    • Money
    • Investing
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Credit Cards
    • Insurance
    • Banking
    • Mortgages
    • Taxes
    • Loans
No Result
View All Result
BLUE HILLCO
No Result
View All Result
Home Tech Apple

Apple’s Screen Time gets a handy new feature, but parental controls can be better

Shirley C. Stewart by Shirley C. Stewart
9 June 2022
in Apple, Tech
0
Apple’s Screen Time gets a handy new feature, but parental controls can be better
75
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on RedditShare on TumblrShare on WhatsApp

You might also like

VW sells minority stake in Electrify America to Siemens

Hyundai gives first look at Ioniq 6 EV as market share surges

Google’s Pixel 6 Pro is $120 off for today only

I’m irrationally excited about a new feature coming to Apple’s Screen Time, the company’s gentler term for parental controls. When my kid wants that extra 15 minutes on her favorite app, her plaintive request will come through iMessage as well as a pop-up notification on my Apple devices.

Why is this exciting? Well, it’s a small thing, but if you miss that Screen Time notification, which is currently the only alert you get, you have to dive into the Settings app to manually address the request. This is fiddly and time-consuming, especially when you’re in the middle of making dinner, as it involves passcodes and multiple taps. With the request sitting handily in my Messages app with a dropdown menu that presumably will give me the same four options — approve for 15 minutes; an hour; all day; or, my favorite, don’t approve — I can handle the demand on my time rather than hers.

Screen Time requests will appear in Messages when iOS 16 arrives.
Image: Apple

This feature will arrive with Apple’s new iOS 16 software update this fall, which will work with the iPhone 8 and later, the iPad (fifth generation and later), the iPad Mini (fifth generation and later), the iPad Air (third generation and later), and all iPad Pro models. It was announced at Apple’s WWDC conference this week, along with a few other upgrades to Family Sharing, Apple’s slightly confusing and very convoluted umbrella term under which Screen Time sits.

Apple’s Screen Time is still not as easy to use or as robust as it could be.

At their core, parental controls go against Apple’s privacy-first ethos, which probably explains why getting the features many parents want to make sure their children are using their devices safely has felt a bit like pulling teeth. But when Screen Time finally launched in 2018, it made it possible to see how long your child was on their device, limit the time they could use it, specify which apps they could access and for how long, and, crucially, manage it all from your device rather than only on your child’s device.

Setting up Screen Time and other Family Sharing features will be more streamlined and less confusing in iOS 16.
Image: Apple

Apple’s Screen Time is still not as easy to use or as robust as Amazon’s parental controls for its services and Fire tablets, which include activity reports so you can see exactly what your child has been doing. But Apple’s options are now at least less confusing than Google’s Family Link, which, like many Google services, is constantly shifting and a pain to implement and manage.

With iOS 16, Apple promises to simplify the setup process, letting existing Screen Time settings automatically transfer to new devices and providing guidance for selecting the right types of content restrictions based on your child’s age when you set up their first device.

Family Sharing allows up to six people to be part of the family and, in iOS 16, will work with quick setup.
Image: Apple

There’s also a new Family Checklist feature that Apple showed briefly during the WWDC keynote, which looks like it will provide a sort of one-stop shop for parents to better understand the tools Apple offers and how to tweak them as their child gets older. Apple’s biggest selling point for parents is how integrated it is — and Family Sharing means you don’t have to buy the same apps or subscriptions multiple times. But it seems like a lot of people don’t realize this (based on my unscientific survey of my kids’ friends’ parents who are constantly asking for my help to figure it out.) Hopefully, Family Checklist will help with this.

I am intrigued by the automatic photo sharing feature in the camera app

Another new feature for families is an iCloud Shared Photo Library. Up to six users can collaborate on and contribute to the photo library, and while it’s not clear exactly how it will differ from the Shared Albums feature, which is how my family currently shares images, I am intrigued by the automatic sharing feature that can be toggled on in the camera app. It would be nice if this were a toggle you keep turned on for your children’s devices, as seeing exactly what your tween has been taking pictures of is a feature some parents might appreciate.

A new Family Checklist feature should help parents make sure they are getting the most out of Apple’s Family Sharing and Screen Time tools.
Image: Apple

These are all useful, if incremental, improvements. But I want Apple to allow me more control over my child’s devices, especially when they are a little older and want to explore more of the internet. I’m a tech journalist; I know about the delights and dangers of the online world. I want my children to benefit from the good experiences while shielding them from the bad. I also want to know about it when they run into something concerning.

There are several paid third-party services, such as Bark, Net Nanny, and Qustodio, that can monitor your child’s online activity — from messaging to social media posts — and alert you to potential issues (not provide a blow-by-blow of every emoji-laden communication ever made). But none of them work comprehensively on Apple devices, and this is a source of frustration for me. I even suggested my son switch back to Android, which allows these services — but the dreaded green bubble is just too powerful.

Privacy advocates will tell me “You should trust your child.” I do trust them, and I constantly discuss with them why I have controls set up and what they should be watching out for when they’re online. It’s other people I don’t trust. It’s like learning to drive; you can teach your child to be the safest, most courteous driver ever, but you can’t control the other drivers they meet on the road.

Share30Tweet19Pin8ShareShareSend
Shirley C. Stewart

Shirley C. Stewart

Recommended For You

VW sells minority stake in Electrify America to Siemens

by Shirley C. Stewart
29 June 2022
0
VW sells minority stake in Electrify America to Siemens

Volkswagen sold a minority stake in its electric vehicle charging division, Electrify America, to Siemens in a deal that values the company at $2.45 billion. The two companies...

Read more

Hyundai gives first look at Ioniq 6 EV as market share surges

by Shirley C. Stewart
29 June 2022
0
Hyundai gives first look at Ioniq 6 EV as market share surges

Hyundai is offering an early look at its upcoming all-electric sedan, the Ioniq 6. It comes as Bloomberg reports that the company’s EV market share is quietly surging...

Read more

Google’s Pixel 6 Pro is $120 off for today only

by Shirley C. Stewart
29 June 2022
0
Google’s Pixel 6 Pro is $120 off for today only

Google’s top-tier flagship phone, the Pixel 6 Pro, is on sale for its lowest price yet. Woot is selling new unlocked Pixel 6 Pro phones for $779.99 for...

Read more

Android 13’s Easter egg is a delightful kaleidoscope of emoji

by Shirley C. Stewart
29 June 2022
0
Android 13’s Easter egg is a delightful kaleidoscope of emoji

In the midst of an otherwise unremarkable new build of Android’s 13 developer beta, 9to5Google uncovered something fun: our annual Android Easter egg. This year’s hidden feature builds...

Read more

Airbnb’s party ban is now permanent

by Shirley C. Stewart
29 June 2022
0
Airbnb’s party ban is now permanent

In 2020, Airbnb introduced a temporary ban on house parties and events to better follow social distancing restrictions with the pandemic. Now, the company says it’s been so...

Read more
Next Post
USB-C will be mandatory for phones sold in the EU ‘by autumn 2024’

USB-C will be mandatory for phones sold in the EU ‘by autumn 2024’

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

5 Safety Tips for Action and Adventure Photography

5 Safety Tips for Action and Adventure Photography

1 June 2022
Aidaly makes sure family caregivers get financial compensation

Aidaly makes sure family caregivers get financial compensation

22 June 2022
Introduction to Pocket Wizards and ControlTL Transmitters

Introduction to Pocket Wizards and ControlTL Transmitters

15 June 2022

Browse by Category

  • Creators
    • Adobe
    • Camera Reviews
    • Cameras and Photography
    • Instagram
    • Kickstarter
    • Tumblr
  • Deals
  • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Film
    • Fortnite
    • Game of Thrones
    • Gaming
    • Internet
    • TV Shows
  • Finance
    • Investing
    • Money
  • How To
  • Reviews
  • Science
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Health
    • NASA
    • Space
    • SpaceX
  • Startups
  • Tech
    • 5G
    • Amazon
    • Apple
    • Apps & Software
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cars
    • Facebook
    • Google
    • Microsoft
    • Mobile
    • Policy
    • Privacy
    • Samsung
    • Scooters
    • Tesla
BLUE HILLCO

© 2022 BlueHillco - Premium news & magazine website. All rights reserved BlueHillco.com

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tech
    • 5G
    • Amazon
    • Apple
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cars
    • Facebook
    • Google
    • Microsoft
    • Mobile
    • Policy
    • Privacy
    • Samsung
    • Scooters
    • Tesla
  • Startups
  • Science
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Health
    • NASA
    • Space
  • Creators
    • Adobe
    • Camera Reviews
    • Cameras and Photography
    • Instagram
    • Kickstarter
    • Tumblr
  • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Film
    • Fortnite
    • Game of Thrones
    • SpaceX
    • Gaming
    • TV Shows
  • How To
  • Deals
  • Finance
    • Money
    • Investing
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Credit Cards
    • Insurance
    • Banking
    • Mortgages
    • Taxes
    • Loans

© 2022 BlueHillco - Premium news & magazine website. All rights reserved BlueHillco.com

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Go to mobile version
Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.

Refresh
Powered By
CHP Adblock Detector Plugin | Codehelppro