Table of contents:
- What can I restrict through parental controls?
- Prevent iTunes and App Store purchases
- Allowed applications
- Content restrictions
- Web content
The operating system of iPhone and iPad, iOS 12, offers powerful parental control so that our children can use mobile devices safely. Parental control allows us to block or limit apps and specific functions of the device to our children. We may also restrict the settings of our iPhone or iPad for explicit content, purchases and downloads, and privacy. However, not all users know how to set these restrictions on their iPhone or tablet.
In iOS 12 the parental control functions have been moved to the "Time of use" option within Settings. If we have the option “Time of use” deactivated, when entering it will ask us to say if the device belongs to the father or the son, thus changing the configuration. If the device is ours but we want to prevent the little ones in the family from changing the settings, we can “Use a code for Time of use”. Once here, we will click on "Content and privacy restrictions", from where we can configure multiple options.
What can I restrict through parental controls?
Upon entering "Content and privacy restrictions" we will see a long list of options. However, if we want to use them, the first thing to do is activate "Restrictions". Through this option we can:
- Restrict iTunes and App Store purchases
- Choose allowed applications
- Restrict content
- Set privacy
- Limit the use of mobile data
- Restrict account changes
And these are just some of the options that iOS 12 offers us. Let's see how to configure some of the most important ones.
Prevent iTunes and App Store purchases
One of the biggest fears of any parent when they leave a mobile or tablet for their child is that they will buy apps or content by accident. We have heard and read many cases of parents who leave the iPhone to their child and soon a bill of thousands of euros arrives for purchases on iTunes or in the apps. Therefore, the first thing we must restrict are purchases.
For this we will enter the option "Purchases in iTunes and App Store." From here we can restrict the installation of new apps, the removal of current apps and, very importantly, in-app purchases. We can also indicate that, for any purchase, the password is always required.
Allowed applications
iOS 12 also allows us to restrict the use of the apps and functions built into our iPhone or iPad. To do this we will enter the option "Allowed apps". If we have an application that we do not want our children to use, we just have to uncheck it from the list.
Deactivating an app or function from "Allowed apps" does not imply its elimination. It is simply temporarily hidden from the home screen. When we activate it again it will appear again.
Content restrictions
The third main option that the iOS 12 parental control system offers us is the content restriction. From this option we can prevent the reproduction of music with explicit content to prevent the reproduction of movies or programs with specific ratings.
This same qualification also carries over to books and applications. We can thus prevent the use of apps with specific ratings that we define.
Web content
Another interesting option that we can restrict on our iPhone is web content. iOS can automatically filter website content to limit access to adult content in Safari and device apps.
We can also add specific websites to an approved or blocked list. Or even limit access only to approved websites. To do this we will have to go to Settings - Time of use - Content and privacy restrictions - Content restrictions - Web content. Here we will have the three options discussed.
And these four options could be considered the main basis of a good parental control on our iPhone or iPad. However, iOS 12 offers us many more options, such as blocking changes in settings and all kinds of functions. We are not going to explain all the options because we would need many pages, but if you leave your mobile phone to your children it is worth taking a look at them.
