How is My Child Bypassing My 1 Hour Daily Limit with TikTok? (He’s Currently at 3 Hours)

[nicho]

Maybe this will help.

Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Guided Access limits your device to a single app and lets you control which features are available. You can turn on Guided Access when you let a child use your device, or when accidental gestures might distract you.

support.apple.com

I’m away from my kid for the next 5 days on a business trip

Unlikely.

 

[pw5a29]

Tiktok for 3 hours?

You need a new kid

 

[jrdatrackstar1223]

My daughters found a work around with their iDevices, which is to simply shut the device down/back on, over and over, until eventually I guess iCloud screen time doesnt “catch” and throws off the system. They have both an iPhone and iPad and idk how long this trick has worked (they showed me themselves). I think this applies to iCloud Screen Time and doesn’t work for Screen time on the device itself (without passcode).

When they do this the 1 hr limit I have set for all apps and usages no longer restrict them and they do not have to submit a request for time.

 

[HappyDude20]

My daughters found a work around with their iDevices, which is to simply shut the device down/back on, over and over, until eventually I guess iCloud screen time doesnt “catch” and throws off the system. They have both an iPhone and iPad and idk how long this trick has worked (they showed me themselves). I think this applies to iCloud Screen Time and doesn’t work for Screen time on the device itself (without passcode).

When they do this the 1 hr limit I have set for all apps and usages no longer restrict them and they do not have to submit a request for time.

These are the kinds of workarounds that my kid shows me and am so impressed that’ how they find these bugs is so impressive that I wanna just let them use their phone24/7 bit of course can’t let them know that

 

[Sullivan0930]

No. I guess I’ll do that now.
I did block Instagram.com and YouTube.com via safari so he has to use the respective apps in order to access those services.

can also just use proxy sites to get around the direct url block.

These are the kinds of workarounds that my kid shows me and am so impressed that’ how they find these bugs is so impressive that I wanna just let them use their phone24/7 bit of course can’t let them know that

they just go on youtube/tiktok and search "how bypass parental locks" the kid isnt a hacker.

 

[HappyDude20]

can also just use proxy sites to get around the direct url block.

they just go on youtube/tiktok and search "how bypass parental locks" the kid isnt a hacker.

Yeah I remember using proxy sites back into the day as well.

I don’t think I ever called the kids a hacker. Just impressive.

 

[BBDDVV]

Unlikely.

When you’re using Family Sharing, then yes, you can set all their restrictions from your own phone. Just go to Settings -> Screen Time -> scroll down to Family and tap your kid’s name. All settings you see here are from your kid’s phone, and any changes you make are almost instantly applied to his/het phone…

 

[nicho]

When you’re using Family Sharing, then yes, you can set all their restrictions from your own phone. Just go to Settings -> Screen Time -> scroll down to Family and tap your kid’s name. All settings you see here are from your kid’s phone, and any changes you make are almost instantly applied to his/het phone…

The suggestion I said was unlikely to help was to instead use guided access. So no, that’s not gonna work and your “then yes” correction is misplaced.

 

[Orandelta]

I found out my daughter was quietly approving her own requests for more time from my iMac which I left logged in. She would grant an app extra time "for the rest of the day". I will take better care to log out when I'm not using it and in the meantime have disabled notifications for screentime as well.

 

[MozMan68]

can also just use proxy sites to get around the direct url block.

they just go on youtube/tiktok and search "how bypass parental locks" the kid isnt a hacker.

I would guess the blocker doesn't count website versions of the app as counting, but she mentioned she can see that he is actually going over the limits. It must be one of the "time" based hacks.

 

[jonnyb098]

I haven’t brought it up to him. He’s cunning. And this is like a chess game. I heard somewhere that kids can just keep tapping the ‘1 more minute’ option But am not really sure.

This is something I didn’t even know about. Apple really dropped the ball in introducing this feature if kids know of numerous ways to get around it.

You could just take the phone away. Nothing beats actual parenting. TikTok is also mental poison so theres that too.

 

[Tdude96]

I found out my daughter was quietly approving her own requests for more time from my iMac which I left logged in. She would grant an app extra time "for the rest of the day". I will take better care to log out when I'm not using it and in the meantime have disabled notifications for screentime as well.

Reading through this thread, I don't know how you all keep a straight face when you catch the kids figuring out ways to bypass the lockouts.

@Orandelta: I don't have a kid, but I do work in a somewhat high security environment. And at home my cat tended to lay on my keyboard, resulting in many undesirable happenings if it was unlocked. So my solution both places was to set the computers to require the password immediately after the screensaver starts and set the screensaver to a hot corner. Then just developed the habit of moving the mouse to the hot corner anytime I left the computer to lock it instantly. A similar setup might help you.

 

[calmelb]

3) Let him know that you will inspect both phones daily for type and amount of usage. If he persists on his current path, talk with his teacher and have all school business communicated to you and your wife, ex, or girlfriend directly via communication of choice. That way, you know what is going on at all times. I have a feeling if you lock him down this way, he will get the message.

Depending on the age of the child this is one way to remove all trust from them in the future, and instead have them try and find ways to keep things secret. Parent/ children relationships are important and invading privacy of a child (especially if they are 15 or older) will ruin them

 

[Orandelta]

Another point worth noting is that if you kid knows your phone passcode, they can go in and reset their screen time pass code to something they will remember. From that point they can do anything they like. Its not a permanent solution for them, because the next time you go to modify the screen time settings, it will fail, and you will know that there have been shenanigans. Kids are amazingly good at watching you enter your passcode too.

 

[funwithstuff]

One last possibility is that your Screen Time setup could be broken — mine was. My kid and I shared some internal ID for Home Sharing, and the time limits I put in place simple didn't stick. It took Apple Support many calls to get to the bottom of the issue, and I had to go through a weird reset procedure, but it (mostly) works now.

The only foolproof approach is to physically take the devices out of their hands, though.

 

[DeepIn2U]

The interesting thing is I asked half a dozen of his friends both boys and girls what App they use the most and they said Snapchat. What I had no idea about is that their teacher sends home work updates on snap chat.

Why the hell is a teacher using a social media app to send homework updates to classmates?!

Like seriously, I think at that pint a meeting with other parents and the teacher and principle need to be done. An email would be sufficient.

Not for nothing but this kinda screams teacher gets with underage child case waiting to happen. I pray never but it’s not right to use social media used for sharing pictures to send homework updates to students.

 

[SenorWhyMe]

Why the hell is a teacher using a social media app to send homework updates to classmates?!

Like seriously, I think at that pint a meeting with other parents and the teacher and principle need to be done. An email would be sufficient.

Not for nothing but this kinda screams teacher gets with underage child case waiting to happen. I pray never but it’s not right to use social media used for sharing pictures to send homework updates to students.

pretty creepy for a teacher to use apps like that to communicate with students

 

[DeepIn2U]

pretty creepy for a teacher to use apps like that to communicate with students

Glad I’m not the only one whom thinks this. As why I suggested a talk with the teacher(s), rest of Faculty and parents. Heck take it up with the school board. Just not right.

Maybe I’m old school and I taught my son (and his sister) what to watch out for and be wary of. Maybe its because since I was alive before ‘the information super highway’ aka www aka the internet and used BBS seen all kinds of wrongs going down from others whom have suffered or lost loved ones.

But Social Media to be used for homework updates? Precisely what ‘homework’ needs to be communicated in social media and on snap chat?

 

[SenorWhyMe]

Glad I’m not the only one whom thinks this. As why I suggested a talk with the teacher(s), rest of Faculty and parents. Heck take it up with the school board. Just not right.

Maybe I’m old school and I taught my son (and his sister) what to watch out for and be wary of. Maybe its because since I was alive before ‘the information super highway’ aka www aka the internet and used BBS seen all kinds of wrongs going down from others whom have suffered or lost loved ones.

But Social Media to be used for homework updates? Precisely what ‘homework’ needs to be communicated in social media and on snap chat?

i personally don’t use any social media; but my younger brother age 20 does. snapchat is one creepy app because people can know your location 100% of the time almost like find my iphone if you have that setting on. which is weirder if a teacher has access to students location all the time

 

[andyw715]

SnapChat for an hour. You know how many drugs you can buy on SnapChat in a hour? Get him off of that asap.

My youngest is eagerly awaiting the start of 9th grade so she can get a phone.

 

[andyw715]

Another point worth noting is that if you kid knows your phone passcode, they can go in and reset their screen time pass code to something they will remember. From that point they can do anything they like. Its not a permanent solution for them, because the next time you go to modify the screen time settings, it will fail, and you will know that there have been shenanigans. Kids are amazingly good at watching you enter your passcode too.

You sure about that? I'm unable to update any screen time settings unless I enter the screen time passcode.

Now if your screen time passcode is the same as your phone passcode, well that's on you.

 

[HappyDude20]

Okay so I’m back.

My kid is now in a different school and the school provides all students with their own laptop which I like. They use this laptop for homework and it works well…

However this issue is once again about his iPhone. They are home today sick with a slight fever. As you can imagine he thinks being home sick is an excuse to use his iPhone 12 all day. I told him no and had to leave for work. Now that he started a new school he gets only an hour of TikTok per day but he has already clocked in 3 hours somehow.

I’ve added TikTok.com to the restricted websites list but he is currently in real time still accessing TikTok. The hourglass figure does show up which leads me to believe he is tapping the ‘approve for 1 more minute button’ every minute. These kids are just that dedicated and addicted to TikTok.

I’m not home for another 6 hours and would hate for him to waste his day on his phone.

I’m okay with him being on YouTube so long as it’s on the big television in the den, but don’t want him using TikTok nor using his phone.

Btw, I turned on Downtime earlier today at 8am and he is still 3 hours into using TikTok today so far.

This is very upsetting.

As mentioned a few months ago, kid #2 will not be receiving an iPhone until their 30th birthday.

 

[Orandelta]

Glad you bumped this thread because I need to report some issues.


Has your son updated to iOS 16 recently?

Check screentime settings, particularly
1, is Screen Time turned on? After my daughter's phone was updated, Screen Time was found to be turned off and all settings defaulted. However, once it was turned back on and synced up with the cloud they reappeared.
2, After turning it back on and syncing up, app limits appeared to be all good but upon going in to each of them, "Block at End of Limit" was switched off, rendering the limit useless.

When these shenanigans happen I make a habit of changing my passcode and the Screen Time passcode just in case.

 

[HappyDude20]

Glad you bumped this thread because I need to report some issues.


Has your son updated to iOS 16 recently?

Check screentime settings, particularly
1, is Screen Time turned on? After my daughter's phone was updated, Screen Time was found to be turned off and all settings defaulted. However, once it was turned back on and synced up with the cloud they reappeared.
2, After turning it back on and syncing up, app limits appeared to be all good but upon going in to each of them, "Block at End of Limit" was switched off, rendering the limit useless.

When these shenanigans happen I make a habit of changing my passcode and the Screen Time passcode just in case.

Thank you for replying

Am not sure if he is on iOS 16 yet but I did see him in the software update page in settings before leaving this morning.

I’ll be home soon to check.

Some apps he has access to 24:7 like phone calls with family and Spotify but it is insane how antsy he gets if he’s not holding his phone. I hate it tbh.

 

[HappyDude20]

Update:

Yep. He updated to iOS 16 this morning.

Freaking Apple.

I’m using the word ‘freaking’ instead of the word I really want to use.