Child account able to bypass screen time - IOS 12.1.4 feature request

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jnfnt Author

Level 1

20 points

Child account able to bypass screen time - IOS 12.1.4 feature request

Hi,

I've just set up screen time on my kids' IOS 12.1.4 phones and quickly found a way that it can be subverted.

On the child's phone, I can go into settings -> screen time and "Turn off Screen Time Family Sharing".

This does not require a passcode.

At this stage, app limits are still in force. However, if they now click "Turn on screen time" and follow the prompts via "this is my child's phone", then they can enable a fresh config, set their own passcode and then control their own app limits.

I believe the correct fix would be to require the screentime passcode before allowing Turn off Family Sharing. Please let me know if there's some other way I can lock this down in the meantime.

iPhone X, 11

Posted on Feb 10, 2019 4:37 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 11, 2019 8:30 PM in response to askbarnabas

oops, my mistake. I just rechecked & yes passcode is needed to turn off screen time

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Answer 2

jnfnt Author

Level 1

20 points

Feb 10, 2019 5:18 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

Yes, I'd already followed these steps to set up screen time Family Sharing.

The problem is, if a child then follows the steps I outlined above, they can turn off family sharing without using a passcode, install their own screen time config by pretending to be a parent, and bypass my restrictions.

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Answer 3

Mar 11, 2019 8:22 PM in response to jnfnt

Agreed. How can this be resolved. I find it most disconcerting that the restriction I put in place for child safety can be overridden by an upgrade or by the child themselves. What is the point?

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Answer 4

Mar 13, 2019 1:58 PM in response to jnfnt

On your child's phone set a screen time passcode that the child does not know.

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Answer 5

Mar 13, 2019 2:04 PM in response to jnfnt

The child should not be able to turn off screen time family sharing unless their age in their Apple ID settings is over 18.

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Answer 6

askbarnabas

Level 10

104,214 points

Mar 13, 2019 2:05 PM in response to jnfnt

create consequences for adjusting settings.

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Answer 7

askbarnabas

Level 10

104,214 points

Mar 13, 2019 2:16 PM in response to jnfnt

Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 8

Feb 10, 2019 5:04 PM in response to jnfnt

Use Screen Time with your family

With Family Sharing, you can share music, movies, apps, and more with family — and it now works with Screen Time. You can view reports and adjust settings for children in your family any time, right from your device.

If you're already in a family group, go to Settings > Screen Time, and tap your child's name. If you need to create an Apple ID for your child, go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing > Screen Time.

Or if you're new to Family Sharing, tap Set up Screen Time for Family and follow the instructions to add a child and set up your family. You can add family members any time from Family Sharing settings.

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Answer 9

askbarnabas

Level 10

104,214 points

Mar 11, 2019 8:28 PM in response to jnfnt

I cannot turn my screen time off without a passcode. If you did not put a passcode on their device you should immediately and make sure it is not the same as the passcode they use to get into the device. when used properly there is no way to bypass it.

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Answer 10

jnfnt Author

Level 1

20 points

Mar 13, 2019 2:12 PM in response to askbarnabas

I understand that there are ways, such as enforcing consequences, to manage my children's usage without software help.

However I am not seeking parenting advice, but reporting a limitation of the software which claims to perform a function that it does not.

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Answer 11

Mar 13, 2019 2:18 PM in response to jnfnt

You are missing some setting in the fairly complex screen time settings, either on the parent phone or the child's phone. It might be worth a visit to a genius bar to get direct help-->Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple. It's kind of difficult to work a problem like this without actually having access to both phones.

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Answer 12

askbarnabas

Level 10

104,214 points

Mar 13, 2019 2:07 PM in response to jnfnt

Family Sharing - Apple Support

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Answer 13

jnfnt Author

Level 1

20 points

Mar 13, 2019 1:57 PM in response to askbarnabas

Yes, a passcode is assigned to screentime on my children's devices; I need to enter this to approve requests for more time.

The problem is that they can go to settings->screentime, select "Turn off screentime family sharing" and this does not prompt for a passcode.

Turning off family sharing in this manner does _not_ disable screentime, it just keeps the current config and app limits but detaches it from family sharing. However, they can then select "turn on screentime" and create their own config without any limits, which will override the previous one.

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Answer 14

jnfnt Author

Level 1

20 points

Mar 13, 2019 2:11 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I have set up a passcode that the child does not know.

As I said, in the original post as well as in two subsequent replies so far, the problem is that no passcode is prompted for when selecting "turn off screentime family sharing".

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Child account able to bypass screen time - IOS 12.1.4 feature request

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