Why isn’t Safari blocked by Screen time in iOS 12?

Question

Level 1

11 points

Why isn’t Safari blocked by Screen time in iOS 12?

I recently downloaded iOS 12. I was curious about the Screen time settings. I decided that between 21 and 05:30 only phone, facetime. messages and maps should be available.

However, aparently it is still possible to use Safari after 21. I just get some minor annoying page which says the time is up, but it can be overridden easily. The Safari app is apparently not in the list of apps you can choose not to be used within some time limits.

My suggestion is that the Safari app should not be treated differently than other apps. Just block it between these hours.

Also, I suggest that Apple make it possible to have at least two Screen time durations. For example one during night and another one to be used during school/work hours.

Posted on Sep 23, 2018 2:05 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

S3R6i0

Level 1

23 points

Nov 4, 2018 2:36 PM in response to sberman

If you're asking about using Screen Time, then it's best to think of Safari not as an application, but rather as a method to possibly invoke or circumvent other applications. If your intent is to restrict content, then use Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If you wish to restrict access to Safari, you may use Guided Access to do that.

It's best to think of the iPhone as a physical, mobile version of Safari on the desktop, where the home screen is the Favorites bar and apps are just bookmarks, because if I use Screen Time to block apps like YouTube, Reddit, FaceBook and the usual suspects, I can just open up Safari and access that content, completely defeating the whole purpose of Screen Time. No, Safari should not be treated differently. It's amazing how a bunch of brilliant egg heads can fumble something so elementary.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

272,910 points

Sep 23, 2018 2:11 PM in response to rask07

It is not clear if your intent is to make suggestions or to ask a technical question.

Suggestions are not made in the Apple Support Communities. The intent of the communities is to answer questions.

Apple Support Communities Use Agreement

If you're asking about using Screen Time, then it's best to think of Safari not as an application, but rather as a method to possibly invoke or circumvent other applications. If your intent is to restrict content, then use Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If you wish to restrict access to Safari, you may use Guided Access to do that.

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Answer 3

srbuzz

Level 1

4 points

Jan 27, 2019 11:35 PM in response to rask07

Please, EVERYONE who is frustrated with this, leave feedback so it get's fixed ASAP! >>> http://apple.com/feedback

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Answer 4

Nov 17, 2018 3:31 PM in response to S3R6i0

I can’t believe that access to safari is not blocked through screen either.

Can we have a fix for this ASAP.

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Answer 5

dbbikes

Level 1

8 points

Nov 27, 2018 8:18 PM in response to sberman

I don’t want to setup guided access, I want Safari to be inoperative like other apps when screen time restrictions are in place. I struggle to understand how this makes sense? To get to my question, does guided access allow me to keep access to ALL web content restricted for a specific time frame?

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