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All Devices How good is Screen Time’s “Adult Content” blocking?

DominikHoffmann

DominikHoffmann

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 15, 2007
544
628
Indiana
Screen Time allows me to block “Adult Content” on my or my children’s devices. How actively is that list curated by Apple? Would they consider the web page of a crisis pregnancy center adult content? What about an online sex-ed program for middle-school children?
 
DominikHoffmann said:
Screen Time allows me to block “Adult Content” on my or my children’s devices. How actively is that list curated by Apple? Would they consider the web page of a crisis pregnancy center adult content? What about an online sex-ed program for middle-school children?
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My kids are older now so we missed out on the screen time option but I tried many other tricks over the years. When they started it was wifi only iPods that I could stop the internet connection on at a certain time each night.

I could go on with examples but might as well get to the point. They will find a way around pretty much any block you put up. Best to talk to them about things and trust they can handle it with verification on a timeline you're comfortable with. You cannot shelter them from everything. Turn the feature on, don't avoid the talks, and hope for the best. They will be where you are one day too and be just fine in the end.
 
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Here's something you should also be worried about that we found out about the hard way. I should note, I wouldn't have found this unless I had built my own script that put screen captures into my accounts public folder (dropbox) every 30 seconds. That is very handy.

Here's what happened: My son was using Dictionary, and as you may know there is a wikipedia tab that does real-time lookups and suggestions. He is curious about James Bond, so had typed in 'Bond'. About 10 suggestions down is 'Bondage' and 'Bondage Positions'. What a disaster.

Apple is doing good things with Screen Time, but never let your guard down.
 
gsmornot said:
My kids are older now so we missed out on the screen time option but I tried many other tricks over the years. When they started it was wifi only iPods that I could stop the internet connection on at a certain time each night.

I could go on with examples but might as well get to the point. They will find a way around pretty much any block you put up. Best to talk to them about things and trust they can handle it with verification on a timeline you're comfortable with. You cannot shelter them from everything. Turn the feature on, don't avoid the talks, and hope for the best. They will be where you are one day too and be just fine in the end.
Click to expand...
This.

Rule of thumb (this is from an IT guy), kids will ALWAYS be on the bleeding edge of getting around tech restrictions. Put whatever you want on in terms of restrictions but keep in mind it’s better to be honest with them about what you expect from them and WHY you are doing it. Take it from a former tech-oriented kid, if you put a tech puzzle in front of them they WILL find a way around it. That curiosity in doing so is actually a good thing.
 
I appreciate you guys’ input on the matter of parental controls in general. I totally agree.

I am wondering, however, what the actual scope of “Adult Content” is for Apple, and whether such a blacklist is actively curated.
 
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