Described by many as a handheld computer, the iPhone has a range of features beyond taking photographs, making phone calls and sending text messages. Through Apple’s iOS mobile operating system (the software that powers an iPhone), users can also use the App Store, which gives them access to millions of apps – from TikTok to Minecraft to Apple Music.
iOS does have parental controls available to help parents block or limit specific apps on their child’s iPhone as well as restricting features such as location sharing.
Parental controls can be accessed through the ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ section of the ‘Screen Time’ setting on their child’s iPhone. Parents can set a passcode to prevent these settings being changed. Apple also introduced Family Sharing which can be used to share Apple subscriptions like Apple Music, but also allows parents to set up an Apple ID for children in their family under 13 and set parental controls remotely (on their own devices). Family Sharing includes the ‘Communication Safety’ setting which can detect if a child receives or tries to send a nude photo or video in several Apple apps including Messages, Facetime and Airdrop. This feature will blur the image, warn the child and encourage them to get help, but it does not prevent the child viewing or sharing the imagery if they choose to do so.
