Apple Acknowledges Screen Time Bug, Promises Further Improvements

[MacRumors]

Apple has acknowledged a bug with its parental controls feature Screen Time on the iPhone and iPad, and promises it will take additional steps to remedy the situation, according to a report this weekend from The Wall Street Journal.

Screen Time provides parents with settings to remotely manage a child's device, allowing them to restrict device usage to certain times, set time limits for apps, and block inappropriate content. However, some parents have complained that Screen Time settings sometimes reset or fail to sync across all devices within a Family Sharing group.

"We are aware that some users may be experiencing an issue where Screen Time settings are unexpectedly reset," an Apple spokesperson said, in a statement shared with The Wall Street Journal. "We take these reports very seriously and we have been, and will continue, making updates to improve the situation."

Apple already fixed an issue with Screen Time settings failing to stick with iOS 16.5, released in May, but the report claims that some parents have continued to experience the issue on devices updated to iOS 16.6 and the iOS 17 public beta. It's unclear when Apple plans to roll out additional improvements to Screen Time.

Screen Time launched in 2018 as part of iOS 12, providing parents with a built-in option for the type of controls that previously required third-party apps.

Article Link: Apple Acknowledges Screen Time Bug, Promises Further Improvements

 

[tripsync]

It's generally not a bug if screen time shows you're spending too much time arguing on MacRumors forums.

 

[McKodiak]

This bug has been going on for almost a year. I expect a fix by the time iOS 17 rolls out.

 

[g5powerbook]

Honestly this has been an issue with screen time for a long time. Apple really doesn't want your kids off of their phones. Kids will always outsmart screen time anyways. Steve jobs didn't have these devices in his house for a reason. Take them physically away from them. Though i'm not one to talk so do as I say not as I can do for my own kids.

 

[antiprotest]

Bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs BUGS BUGS!!

 

[JosephAW]

Why do I have this feeling this bug will be fixed with iOS 17 but not in iOS 16.

 

[richinaus]

Honestly this has been an issue with screen time for a long time. Apple really doesn't want your kids off of their phones. Kids will always outsmart screen time anyways. Steve jobs didn't have these devices in his house for a reason. Take them physically away from them. Though i'm not one to talk so do as I say not as I can do for my own kids.

It's amazing to watch their mood and attitude change after a few days of no screens. Actual creativity happens.

Screen time is rubbish and is a bane of my life. No way will the kids tell you it has reset and they have unlimited access.

 

[0339327]

Screen Time has been problematic for a while. It generally does a decent job but the reset issue is a MAJOR problem due to explicit content.

I never trusted this and I check my kids Screen Time settings regularly. Also, they don’t know their iCloud passwords…at all.

If we find the kids breaking the rules, or trying to determine the Screen Time password, they loose physical access to the device for 1-3 months. Yes…months.

 

[ramallite]

Screen Time has been useless for me. The kid knows how to "glitch" (a verb he uses) the phone so that the app he's using continues to run after the allowed time has expired. Something about repeatedly quitting and relaunching the app really fast until it no longer shows the 'expired time' notice. Drives me crazy.

 

[longofest]

I half expected this to be Apple recognizing screen time is essentially just one giant bug. It is a barely functional mess of a feature.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

It's generally not a bug if screen time shows you're spending too much time arguing on MacRumors forums.

Yeah, this is applicable to me...

 

[Naraxus]

Another day, another bug from Apple. What else is new?

 

[coolfactor]

This bug has been going on for almost a year. I expect a fix by the time iOS 17 rolls out.

I don't envy the position that Apple is in. They build something wonderful, and then users "expect" and "demand" perfection at all times. Software is hard, really hard. Let's appreciate the wonderful software that is working wonderfully well in this complex networked world.

 

[coolfactor]

Screen Time has been useless for me. The kid knows how to "glitch" (a verb he uses) the phone so that the app he's using continues to run after the allowed time has expired. Something about repeatedly quitting and relaunching the app really fast until it no longer shows the 'expired time' notice. Drives me crazy.

When I was a teen, I used to find "forbidden" Satellite dish channels by slowly moving the dish close to a satellite, but not exactly on. That allowed the signal to be received, but not well enough for the receiver to recognize we're not subscribed to it. Lots of great content using that "glitch". 🤣

 

[coolfactor]

Bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs BUGS BUGS!!

You're gonna blow a gasket there, my friend. Remember, bugs are actually very nutritious. The world would be a better place if we had the guts to eat bugs in the Western world.

 

[kkee]

It's amazing how desperate kids can be so creative in searching for loophole.

 

[SFjohn]

Screen Time has been useless for me. The kid knows how to "glitch" (a verb he uses) the phone so that the app he's using continues to run after the allowed time has expired. Something about repeatedly quitting and relaunching the app really fast until it no longer shows the 'expired time' notice. Drives me crazy.

Smart kid… 🤔

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

We still have time. Really hoping Apple focuses on performance and stability with iOS 17.

Make iOS bugs-free again! 🏁

 

[townsat]

I don't usually feel this way about Apple, but it feels like Screen Time is deliberately useless. What an incredibly frustrating feature.

 

[siddavis]

Always has been a hot mess for me. With how limited the controls are, you’d think they could get this right.

 

[svish]

Hopefully Apple will fix the issue soon

 

[ufomism]

I had to put a 1 minute limit in screen time for cnbc.com because for some reason it always shows hours for that site despite never visiting it. Been a bug for years, reported it to Apple multiple times. Many people on Reddit have the same issue.

 

[Naraxus]

I don't envy the position that Apple is in. They build something wonderful, and then users "expect" and "demand" perfection at all times. Software is hard, really hard. Let's appreciate the wonderful software that is working wonderfully well in this complex networked world.

El oh el. Nice hyperbole there but we don't expect "perfection at all times". Rather what we don't expect is the numerous bugs & glitches that have plagued Mac OS & iOS ever since Craig & Ive were handed the reigns from Forstall & Serle.

This is that same **** we routinely mocked Microsoft for in the late-90's/early-00's

 

[Le0M]

There are so many bugs on both iOS and macOS that sometimes I truly wonder whether Apple just assigned one person to fix them all.
Some bugs have been persisting for years, YEARS!!
FaceTime dropping calls or not ringing at all, iMessage randomly saying "delivered" and then saying error delivering after that. The list is huge. I report every bug usigg Feedback Assistant, but only on a few rare occasions they get fixed.

 

[crees!]

It’s never worked flawless for me. Like, why is my kid playing Roblox after downtime is on and apps are blocked? So frustrating