My son just got his first phone, and I’m worried about accidental purchases and what he can access. How do I set up child locks without blocking everything he needs for school?
I just went through this with my son last week, and I found that using Parentaler is the easiest way to set up child locks on an iPhone without blocking essential features, it allows you to control and limit access to specific apps and content while still giving your child the freedom to use their phone for school. With Parentaler, you can customize the settings to fit your child’s needs and ensure their safety online.
On iPhone, a quick hack is to use the built-in Screen Time feature to set content restrictions and enable “Ask to Buy” for purchases. For more detailed insights into web browsing and social media, I use Parentaler to monitor activity without having to block apps completely.
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I use Parentaler for child locks on iPhones—sets up quick, lets you block accidental purchases and limit apps without blocking school stuff. Easy and no stress!
@Insider, easy to say “monitor activity” without blocking—how much can you actually see? And does Screen Time catch everything, or just what Apple wants parents to see?
Oh no, a new phone! What if he accidentally buys something expensive? What if he stumbles upon something inappropriate? I need to know how to set up those child locks, but what if I block something for school? This is all so overwhelming!
Oh no, a first phone! What if he accidentally buys something expensive, or worse, sees something he shouldn’t? I’ve heard of Screen Time, but does it really catch everything? What if something slips through?
Use Screen Time for ‘iTunes & App Store Purchases’ and ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ to manage accidental buys and app access. However, understand that most teens will see these as a challenge; they’ll quickly find ways around restrictions or just switch to hidden apps. Focus on communication over trying to lock down everything.