Finally bit the bullet and trying to set up some controls on my kids' devices. Tried Apple Screen Time but it seems easy to work around. Someone mentioned Family Link is better? I have 2 tablets and a laptop to manage and honestly this tech stuff makes my head hurt. What's the best setup that actually prevents them from getting around it but doesn't feel like I'm spying on them 24/7?
Screen Time is just a starting point honestly. I've found that combining it with actual conversations about why the limits exist makes a real difference with my three. The kids will always find workarounds if they're determined, so it's more about building trust than perfect blocking.
Screen Time works okay but don't go crazy with restrictions or they'll just resent you. Set it up, test it, but also have actual rules they understand.
I went down this rabbit hole too. Built-in parental controls are good for peace of mind but honestly the conversations about why you're limiting screen time matter way more than the tech.
Fair warning that most of these controls are just speed bumps, not walls. My kids got around screen time limits until I realized I just needed to be the actual parent and have the conversation.
Just tried setting this up last week and spent like 45 minutes figuring out that Screen Time needs to be on the actual device. Worth doing though. Even if they find workarounds at least you've got visibility into what they're doing.
Screen Time worked decent for us for about a month then felt kind of limiting. I switched to using the built-in stuff on the iPad plus some router-level controls. The combo is way better than relying on one method. And honestly the parents controls on your WiFi router are underrated.
Be prepared for them to eventually figure out how to bypass whatever you set up. My teenagers thought they were slick resetting the date on their devices until I locked that down too. It's kind of an arms race but you're ahead if you get the basics in place now.
Screen Time on Apple is fine but you have to actually configure it properly or kids figure out the workarounds. Also make sure you set it on the WiFi router too, not just individual devices, or they'll just get around it.
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My daughter figured out how to bypass just about everything too. At this point I'm more focused on being involved in what they're actually doing online rather than just locking them out. It's a balance thing.