You can use the Screen Time app to prevent app store purchases by your child, filter explicit apps, games, and web content, restrict Apple Intelligence and Siri to prevent image creating, writing help, explicit language, math results, and other AI assistance. You can also use the app to prevent your child from changing their phone’s privacy settings, cellular data settings, and other account changes.
If your child attempts to visit a blocked website using any browser, they will be presented with a message stating that the website is inaccessible. However, as the parent, you can remotely enter the Screen Time password to allow access to the website.
One handy feature of Screen Time is the ability to remotely approve requests from your child to extend screen time, communication time, or app time. You can add 15 minutes, allow an additional hour, or grant them all-day access. There’s also an Ask to Buy option, allowing kids to make their own choices regarding paid apps and games while you control the spending.
Finally, you can monitor your child’s activity on their mobile device or computer via the Screen Time dashboard, which shows which apps were accessed and for how long. The activity monitor also reveals the websites your child has visited and how long they browsed. For more information on using the service, see our guide on setting limits with Apple’s Screen Time. We suggest taking the time to scroll through the menu categories in Screen Time with your child present and use that opportunity to explain why restrictions are necessary.
The Communication Safety setting within Screen Time will detect nude photos and videos before they’re sent or viewed on your child’s phone using AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, or Messages. If it detects nudity, it blurs the image or video and displays an on-screen prompt to block the contact, message an adult, or view other options for help. We did not test this feature. Communication safety settings are enabled by default for children under 18 years old.
