What The Tech: Kids & Smartphones

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-  In the age of social media and constant connectivity, parents are often concerned about managing their children’s screen time and online activities. With teenagers and pre-teens becoming increasingly tech-savvy, they sometimes find clever ways to bypass smartphone
restrictions, sharing tips and tricks on platforms like TikTok.

From hiding apps on the home screen to disguising them to evade parental oversight, the digital cat-and-mouse game
continues.

Many parents rely on tools like Screen Time on iPhones to set boundaries for app usage. For example, if parents decide that an hour of Snapchat is enough for a day, they can enforce this limit through the Screen Time settings.

Once the allotted time expires, the app remains locked until a parent enters the passcode to grant more time.

This feature can be applied to any app, providing a level of control over how long children spend on specific applications.

However, a significant oversight occurs with web-based access to popular apps like TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram. While parents can set time limits for these websites, these restrictions do not apply when children use incognito or private browsing modes.

In these modes, users can visit websites without the time being counted against the Screen Time limits.

This loophole means that, despite parental controls, children can spend unrestricted time on these sites without leaving a trace in their browsing history.

For parents facing difficulties with their children visiting certain websites, more stringent measures are available. Within the Screen Time settings, parents can tap on content and privacy restrictions and create a passcode to allow changes.
Then, by selecting content  restrictions, they can block explicit content and set age-appropriate limits.

To further restrict web content, parents can block adult websites or even specify which websites are allowed, preventing access to any others—even in incognito mode.
Despite these options, some limitations persist. For instance, it’s not possible to block incognito or private mode on iPhones directly.

Android devices offer more flexibility in this regard, especially if the child’s phone is supervised with Family Link.

Parents can also turn to third-party apps that monitor a child’s phone usage and block access to certain apps and websites. These services typically come with a monthly fee of around $15.

Another approach gaining popularity is the use of flip phones for young children. These devices, readily available from cellular providers, are cost-effective and limit functionality to calls and texts.

This option ensures parents can stay in touch with their children and provide them with a means of communication in emergencies, without the distractions and risks associated with smartphones navigating the complexities of digital parenting requires a combination of using built-in features, understanding the limitations of these tools, considering third-party solutions, and sometimes opting for simpler technology.

As the digital landscape evolves, so too must the strategies parents employ to ensure their children’s safety and well-being online.