Screen Time - Apple Devices
Why we do this
It is important that we manage and own the technology that we use. How we spend our time and what we look at does matter. Setting up guardrails for ourselves, our children, or even friends and neighbors will help us all live healthier lives. When we live healthier lives we are better for our family and for our community.
Start
On your iPhone , go to Settings, scroll down until you see Screen Time
First thing
The first thing we want to do is turn on App and Website activity
Click App and Website Activity and turn on . If you try and do this later, it has a tendency to reset all settings
Set up screen time password
After app and website activity is turned on , you will be taken back to the screen time menu. Notice that more features are turned on now .
Scroll down until you see Lock Screen Time Settings
Click this and set a Pin or passphrase
Enter it twice
You will now be prompted to enter an Apple ID and password to set up in case the password is forgotten. You can set this to anyone’s Apple ID
Now you will see Change Screen Time Password
Close out of Screen Time and close out of Settings . This will help to verify password is set
Setting up content restrictions
Go into Settings , Screen Time and scroll down until you see Content and Privacy Restrictions
Click that and toggle on Content and Privacy Restrictions. You will be prompted for your screen time pass code
Once turned on go to App Store , Media, Web and Games
Make these setting changes for young adults and adults. If you need social media , set this to 12+ but see section below on setting time limits for social media settings
- Apps - set an appropriate age . 9 + will remove social media, browsers and any dating sites *Please note that many apps are available at 4 +. If the app you need is rated higher than 9 + consider another way to access the system.
- App Clips - Set to don’t allow . This will make sure when you are in the App Store videos of games or content does not play. Sometimes this media is questionable.
- Web Content - Limit Adult Website . This is not perfect but turns off Incognito mode and blocks porn websites for Safari.
- If you are setting this up for a child or Teen , I would also review the Game Center settings and set these appropriately
Once these settings are in place , close out screen time, and then go back into it again to make sure setting saved.
Go into Screen Time a couple of times, and verify settings. Possibly even reboot the phone. I have seen these settings not save on first set up.
Other suggestions
Block deleting apps and in store purchases
Go to Settings , Screen Time, Content and Restrictions. iTunes and App Store Purchases
Set the deleting Apps to Not Allowed
Set the In-app Purchases to Don’t Allow
Communication safety
This is a new feature from Apple. When turned on this will provide guidance on the sharing and viewing of nude photos and videos. It does not delete or block them, but merely provides guidance on if this type of content should be shared. Once turned on you can also access resources for child safety.
Go to Settings , Screen Time, Communication Safety , Turn on
Set limits on social media apps
While social media has its place, it is never good to leave this unrestricted as far as time allowed on an app. We need to prevent these apps as time wasters and limit the amount of time spent on them.
If you set the App Age to 12 + as that is where social media apps are registered, then you can make these adjustments here. Note you can set time limits for any app under Screen Time. These instructions are specifically for Social Media Apps allowed under the 12 + Age group.
Go to Settings , Screen Time, App Limits
Toggle On
Add Limit
Click on Social and the highlight the Social Media App that you want to
add restrictions to. You can choose multiple and even the the whole
group of Social Media Apps.
Click Next
Add Time Limit - 30 Minutes
Click Block at End of Limit
Add
You can also set this limit on games, or any apps. Simply look through the categories and set the limit.
