Parental Controls for IOS12

Apple have introduced an excellent series of features to enable the restriction of content, set time limits, and permissions across it's range of devices. We highly recommend parents avail of this free feature which is not difficult to set up if you just follow our guide.

 

 

To activate the Parental Controls on IOS12

• Select Settings
• Select Screen Time
• Before you activate Screen Time we would advise that you create a Screen Time Passcode which will prevent the settings from being accessed and altered once you have them up.

 

DOWNTIME

This is an excellent feature which allows parents to set Downtime for a device. Once enabled parents can schedule time were the device will automatically be blocked and disabled. children need restricted access to devices and are often unwilling to put the device down themselves, after using it for long periods. We are also beginning to see an increasing amount of children's sleep hygiene impacted by device overuse and access.

 

 

We would strongly advise parents to use this feature. Activate Downtime by turning it on and choosing the times when the device cannot be used

1. Select the Start Time
2. Select the End Time

Downtime will apply to all devices that are using iCloud for Screen time. A Downtime reminder will be sent to the child's device, five minutes before Downtime begins.

Parents have a further option to select Block at Downtime. This will block the device during this time which prevents the device from receiving content or calls. One way to ensure a good night's sleep which will not be interrupted by the device.

 

App Limits

Set time limits for apps. This feature allows parents to set a time limit for Apps to be used on the device. On average an adult activates their device 55 times a day. It is possibly quite higher for children. As parents we would be aware that once we begin to look at a notification we receive, the temptation to look through other Apps is very strong. What may have started out as just checking a notification, can turn in to a half hour of scrolling through social media newsfeeds etc.

By setting App Limits, the time to access the Apps is limited to a set period of time in a 24 hour period. Might not be a bad idea for parents to use this feature also. To activate the feature

• Select App Limits
• Select Add Limit          

You now have several options to choose from, each category will list the individual Apps installed on the device. This affords plenty of information for parents when deciding on limits. You can set several different App Limits or use the All Apps and Categories to limit everything.

• All Apps and Categories
• Social Networking
• Games
• Entertainment
• Creativity
• Productivity
• Education
• Reading and Reference
• Health and Fitness
• Other

 

To set time limits

• Select the Category
• Select Add
• Select the Time
• Select Set

App Limits apply to all devices that are using Screen time. A notification will appear five minutes before the limit expires.

 

Block At End Of Limit

Selecting this option will block the App when the limit expires

 

Always Allowed

Always Allowed Apps can be selected which will not be affected during Downtime or if All Apps All Categories is activated. All of the Apps installed will be displayed including Calls and Messages feature.

 

 

ALLOW BUILT-IN APPS AND FEATURES

You can restrict the use of built-in apps or features. If you turn off an app or feature, it won't delete it, it's just temporarily hidden from your Home screen. For example, if you turn off Mail, the Mail app won't appear on your Home Screen until you turn it back on.

To change the Always Allowed Apps

• Go to Settings
• Select Screen Time
• Select Content & Privacy Restrictions
• Enter your Screen Time Passcode
• Select Allowed Apps

Now you can select the Apps that you want to allow on the device

 

Content and Privacy Restrictions

 

PREVENT EXPLICIT CONTENT AND MODERATE CONTENT WITH AGE RATINGS

This option gives a parent control of Installing and Deleting Apps and also In-App Purchases. Parents have the option of requiring a Password before an App is installed or deleted.

You can also choose which Apps can be used on a device. But more importantly you can prevent explicit content in Books, Music, Movies or TV shows with specific ratings. Apps also have ratings that can be configured using rhe Content Restrictions setting

To restrict explicit Content and use Age Ratings

• Go to Settings
• Select Screen Time
• Select Content & Privacy Restrictions
• Select iTunes and App Store Purchases/ Allowed Apps/ Content Restrictions

 

Now you can choose the settings you want for each feature or setting under Content Restrictions

 Ratings For

• • Select the country or region in the ratings section to automatically apply the appropriate content ratings for that region i.e. Ireland

 

• Music, Podcasts & News
  • Prevent the playback of music, music videos, podcasts, and news containing explicit content – Options are Clean/Explicit
  • We would recommend you select Clean

 

• Music Profiles & Posts
  • Prevent sharing what you're listening to with friends and seeing what they're listening to – Options are On/Off
  • We would recommend the setting is Off, due to privacy concerns for younger users

 

• Films
  • Here you can select specific Age Ratings for Movies. Children should only ever be given access to Age Appropriate Content. If a movie is rated as 16, it may be unsuitable for younger viewers due to more mature content
• The Options are
  • Don't Allow Films
  • G (General Audience)
  • PG (Parental Guidance)
  • 12
  • 15
  • 16
  • 18
  • Allow All Films

   

• TV Programmes 
• Here you can select specific Age Ratings for TV Programmes. Children should only ever be given access to age appropriate content. If a movie is rated as 15, it may be unsuitable for younger viewers due to the content.The Options are
  • Don't Allow TV Programmes
  • G (General Audience)
  • PG (Parental Guidance)
  • 12
  • 15
  • 18
  • Allow All TV Programmes

   

• Books
• There are only TWO OPTIONS here which is important to note
  • Clean
  • Explicit

   

• Apps 
• Use this option to prevent access to Apps based on specific Age Ratings
  • Don't Allow Apps
  • 4+
  • 9+
  • 12+
  • 17+
  • Allow All Apps