Parental Controls - Macs vs Other? Individual screen time?

[IceMan30]

Hello Forum!

I have a 10 yo son who's reaching out more and more into the digital world. I'm looking for any general suggestions or specifics on how best to set him up, as well as creating the least frustration or us as parents of an upcoming tween/teen.

So far we have an old iPhone (working as an iPod) that he uses with his own Apple ID, where I can limit content and screen time via Apple's knobs and controls. He also uses our family iPad (as do we, as does our 5 yo daughter), though that usage has increased and we are looking at getting him his own device (iPad, Mac laptop, Chromebook, pc laptop, whatever). We are currently an all-Mac family at home; I'd prefer to keep it that way for privacy and simplicity of device types/software, but will bite the bullet if I have to to provide my kids the best protection online (as much as that's possible anyway...).

• My wife keeps telling me (and I have read somewhat) that Android is a much better environment for content control and protecting what kids have access to. Thoughts on this from the Mac community?
• If I go the route of getting him an older MacBook, do Apple's screen time and content controls allow me to tweak settings per device (or sync settings where desired), or is it just for his Apple ID, regardless of device?
  • For example, maybe I want to allow him broader access to websites/YouTube on a laptop, because he uses that where we watch as well; but I also want restrict his access more on his iPod, which he has in his room.
  • Another example, can I sync overall screen time limit across his iPod and a MacBook or iPad, so that for example a 2 hour limit is cumulative from the time on each device?
• Should I look at additional 3rd party parental control software?
• If Android or Windows are better kid-friendly platforms, what are recommendations on software that I can monitor/control content and access across different platforms, from a different platform (i.e., from iOS)?
• Really, just any other thoughts on the matter or experiences with your own kiddos. Other forums/online resources?
• Side bar: I really, really wish Apple would open up iOS to have multiple logins per device (I know they have this feature on the school editions of iPads)

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and as a parent I really appreciate everyone's comments and feedback. I found some info in previous posts on the forum, but couldn't quite find all that I was looking for.


Cheers!

 

[Bigwaff]

Sounds like you are looking for something that can provide parental controls across multiple devices. Along with “on device” parental controls, I use a router product called Gryphon. It’s a mesh Wi-Fi product which include a comprehensive parental control feature set. It tracks and manages screen time at the device and application network level. Does not require any client app to be installed for a device to be managed. I won’t go deep into its feature set here. You can research if interested. I will say it’s been rock solid performer. Its pretty much a set-it and forget-it product - except obviously when you want to change or mange the parental controls, then you would use the app.

Gryphon

Gryphon is parental control router and internet safety system. Gryphon fights screen time addiction, prevents access to inappropriate websites, blocks adult content, and limit access to apps during homework and bedtime. Gryphon also provides security against hackers, malware, and personal...

gryphonconnect.com

DM me if you have other questions about the product.

 

[IceMan30]

That's a great point...I had looked into router-based solutions in the past, but had some hiccups setting up the software with my Orbi mesh system (I don't think it was Netgear's software, but a partner. Either way, can't recall the name.) Anyway I never got back to it. I will definitely check that out as well as the Gryphon system you mentioned. Thanks!

My only concern would be what happens when the kiddos takes their gear to a friend's or family member's house. Then I don't have much to fall back on. But, I can see where the router approach would tackle 80-90% of situations

 

[OrenLindsey]

Macs have pretty good parental controls, if it supports macOS Ventura or Sonoma. If you have one of those, it will give you the same controls you have on the iPhone.
I would highly recommend Covenant eyes (https://www.covenanteyes.com/). It's meant to block porn, but you can use it to monitor what he's doing. And it can block other things. All in all, you need more than one filtering system, as they all have limitations and defects that kids will pounce on.

 

[Bigwaff]

My only concern would be what happens when the kiddos takes their gear to a friend's or family member's house. Then I don't have much to fall back on.

Actually the Gryphon has a solution for this scenario as well. It’s a subscription based service called Homebound that works with the router parental control features. You install the Homebound app on child device. When child takes device off home WiFi (cellular or different WiFi network), Homebound acts like a VPN service, routing all network traffic through your home Gryphon router. All parental control features are then supported when Homebound device is “roaming”. It’s slick and works really well.