Apple’s Parental Controls Just Got an Update, but Is It Enough?
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Apple has long marketed itself as a privacy-first company, and when it comes to families, it offers some of the most straightforward device-level parental controls on the market. However, while iOS 18.5 introduces welcome updates, questions remain: Are Apple’s controls finally where they need to be — or are they still too easy for tech-savvy kids to work around?
What’s New in iOS 18.5
The most notable change in iOS 18.5 is the introduction of a new Screen Time Passcode Alert. Parents will now be notified when the Screen Time passcode is entered on their child’s device — adding a layer of visibility to help spot potential tampering. While this won’t stop kids from trying to bypass limits, it gives parents a heads-up if something has changed.
Additionally, Apple has streamlined the setup process for child accounts. Parents can now correct the age associated with a child’s Apple Account, a helpful feature if a child’s birthdate was originally entered incorrectly (whether by mistake or not). This also ensures that age-based restrictions, such as app ratings, work as intended.
Other recent updates include a new Age Verification API for Developers. This allows developers to create apps that request age range data (with parental approval) without the need to know a user’s specific age. They can then tailor their experiences accordingly.
What’s Missing
These improvements are welcome, but they don’t address several long-standing limitations. Unlike Google Family Link or Microsoft Family Safety, Apple’s ecosystem still lacks the following:
- True web activity monitoring and browsing history reports;
- Detailed app usage analytics beyond total screen time;
- Time of day app restrictions per individual app, including the ability to block specific apps at specific times; and
- Cross-platform controls for non-Apple devices.
Apple focuses on ease of use and privacy, offering more than most competitors, but it does have its limitations. Being able to view a detailed browsing history is one, and seeing in-app details is another.
Common Loopholes Kids Use
Even with Apple’s controls in place, children continue to find ways around them. Some common workarounds include:
- Using iMessage or Safari to access content while apps are locked.
- Spamming buttons or icons repeatedly to expose bugs and bypass restrictions.
- Guessing or discovering the Screen Time passcode.
That last one is somewhat mitigated by the new alerts in iOS 18.5, but the first two are still viable.
Additionally, Apple’s system still lacks robust logging. If a child changes a setting, deletes a profile, or resets a device, parents may not be aware of it until long after.
What About iOS 19?
So far, rumors about iOS 19 are sparse. Apple could expand parental controls through AI-based activity analysis, such as flagging risky content or suspicious activity. They could also introduce improved notifications for time-limit overrides and more context around usage stats. However, we’ve seen nothing concrete in any of these areas.
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is just around the corner, and Apple has signaled a focus on intelligence and privacy. Parental controls could quietly benefit from both.
The Bottom Line
Apple’s parental controls are evolving. Overall, they remain among the most accessible and well-integrated options on any major platform. Their strength lies in their simplicity and seamless tie-in with Apple’s broader ecosystem — including features like Find My, Focus, and Screen Time.
That said, there’s still room for improvement. For instance, a dedicated Parental Controls app could make managing settings more centralized and intuitive. While Apple’s approach is generally user-friendly, syncing issues and bugs can sometimes cause settings not to save or push properly across devices. On macOS, Screen Time can occasionally interfere with basic functionality, causing frustration for both parents and kids.
Some features also feel limited. App limits can only be set by time per day or during system-wide Downtime, but parents can’t currently block specific apps on specific days or at specific times. More nuanced scheduling — such as quiet hours for specific apps or usage caps based on context — could offer parents the flexibility they need.
While kids working around restrictions remains a challenge, Apple’s system is arguably more robust than competitors when configured properly. Still, closing loopholes and improving reliability will go a long way to keeping kids safe and avoiding configuration issues.
Ultimately, Apple’s tools are effective, and the improvements in iOS 18.5 are welcome. However, it’s time for Apple to take them beyond just “good” and make them great!
