Screen Time controls for child older than 13

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Screen Time controls for child older than 13

I spent a lot of time on the phone with an Apple customer service then with a supervisor in the U.S. and the supervisor told me that Apple considers a child older than 13 an adult and therefore the screen-time limits do not apply. Is this true? The first person I talked to (before I got to the supervisor) took over my screen and verified that I had crossed all Ts for setting up Screen Time properly, yet my teen ignore time limits routinely. I give him 45 mins on a game app and he plays for hours. The app is also "live" during downtime.

iPhone 11

Posted on Nov 18, 2021 2:37 PM

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Answer 1

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Phil0124

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205,465 points

Nov 18, 2021 2:43 PM in response to mcmom18

No. That is entirely wrong. In fact Screen Time restrictions can apply even to devices used by adults over 21.

Screen Time is not limited by the age of the user. Screen Time settings can be applied either directly on the device or through Family sharing regardless of age.

See here: link-> Set up parental controls with Family Sharing on iPhone - Apple Support

The only option limited by age is Ask to Buy. It cannot be turned on for accounts with an age over 18. But if it's turned on before the age of 18, it can remain turn on past 18 indefinitely. Once turned off after the age of 18, it cannot be turned on again however.

For Screen Time, make sure it has a password set, and the child does not know it, and also that Downtime and App Limits are correctly set. If the child knows the Screen Time passcode, they can just bypass the limits set.

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Answer 2

mcmom18 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 18, 2021 2:57 PM in response to Phil0124

It was all correctly set as verified by the first person on the call. I also know he doesn't have the password because I've seen failed attempts (and I also change it periodically.) Screen time is set on my phone and directly on his phone. He's under the family sharing. The first person took over my screen and verified all that it was all set correctly. App limits clearly shows the app in question (game) and it's set for daily minutes, yet he's able to play for hours. It's a supercell game if that helps. I already deleted and reinstalled the game, updated iOS on both our phones. I also notice that the game is frequently"live" even during downtime.

How could a supervisor have steered me wrong? She was adamant that the reason nothing was working despite all being set up correctly was that he is above 13 and therefore considered an adult by Apple. She repeated that numerous times and I guess she was trying to be helpful and saying "oh you need to get their phone at night" like I wasn't already doing that.

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Answer 3

Nov 19, 2021 9:16 AM in response to mcmom18

Don't know why the "supervisor" said that. But, know Screen Time applies to everyone. I can totally apply Screen Time for myself and so can you to verify that to works on adult accounts.

mcmom18 wrote:

I also notice that the game is frequently"live" even during downtime.

How are you noticing this exactly? Are you just looking at the device and the App is not darkened? Or is it something else?

On the child's device go to Settings->Screen Time and try to change something. It should ask for a passcode. Does it? If it doesn't, then you don't have a passcode set for Screen Time.

Check that the button below the restrictions categories says "Change Screen Time Passcode" rather than "Set screen time passcode".

When an app reaches the allotted amount of time it should popup a notification with the option to ask for one more minute. This can only be done once. After that the game will close and be darkened and not be available anymore.

Also note that allotted time, does not specify a particular time of day, so as long as they have time remaining in the app, they can use it at any point during the day except if the iPhone is on Downtime.

Beyond that, there should be no way to get more time with the App unless they actually know the Screen Time passcode. The Screen Time passcode should be different to the one for unlocking the actual iPhone for use.

Outside of that, can you take a screen shot of the Screen Time section in the Childs iPhone just to verify how its set up?

Also of the App Limits?

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Screen Time controls for child older than 13

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