Lock down that iPhone

Featured Articles, Software

Your child is excited because you just gave them their very own iPhone.
By definition, an iPhone is a SMART phone.

Ok, so WHAT is a SMART phone?
According to Google, a smartphone is a cellular telephone with an integrated computer and other features not originally associated with telephones, such as an operating system, Web browsing and the ability to run software applications.

As parents of a teen and tween, we often worry about the safety of our children.
How do we restrict the device so that they are safe from “stranger danger” and all of the worries that come from giving a portable, internet connected, instant messaging, game playing, video and photo taking, mini computer that also texts and makes phone calls to our kids?

Often, the best safety solution for any device is an understanding between yourself and your child as to what is expected from them.

Janel Burley Hoffman has done an excellent job of creating a contract that spells out the expectations a parent might want when giving their child an iPhone or other smart device.

You can check out her post here –>Janel Burley Hofmann’s – Gregory’s iPhone Contract

While you may not agree with every rule listed, I believe that this is a terrific starting point for an understanding between yourself and your child regarding the use of smart devices.

She also offers a way to create your own iRules to share with your child here –> Create Your Own IRules

RESTRICTING AN IPHONE:

You can use Restrictions, also known as parental controls, to block or limit specific apps and features on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, including access to explicit content in the iTunes Store.

From the Settings App, Go to General.
Tap Restrictions.
restrictions
Tap Enable Restrictions and create a passcode for Restrictions.

Do not forget this passcode. In the future, you’ll need your Restrictions passcode to change your settings or to turn off Restrictions.

What you can restrict:

Under Settings > General > Restrictions –> From here you can turn on or off restrictions for the listed apps and features.
restrictions-enable

If an app or feature is on (slide toggle is green), anyone using your device can use that app or feature. Otherwise, no one can use that app or feature.

To enable the item, slide the toggle to green. To disable, slide the toggle to grey.

toggle

APPS AND FEATURES:

  • Safari
  • Camera (also disables FaceTime)
  • FaceTime
  • iTunes Store
  • Apple Music
  • Apple Music Radio
  • Apple Music Connect (replaces Connect tab with Playlists)
  • iBooks Store
  • In-App Purchases
  • Siri
  • AirDrop
  • CarPlay (available only with iPhone 5 or later)
  • Installing apps
  • Deleting apps
  • Multiplayer games in Game Center
  • Adding Game Center friends
  • You can restrict access to YouTube in iOS 5 and earlier.

TYPES OF CONTENT:

  • Ratings (select the country in the ratings section to automatically apply the appropriate content ratings for that region)
  • Music and podcasts
  • Movies
  • TV shows
  • Books
  • Apps
  • Siri
  • Websites
  • You can choose between two options for how often you need to enter your password for these purchases, unless you use Touch ID for paid and in-app purchases.

CHANGES TO PRIVACY SETTINGS:

  • Location Services
  • Contacts
  • Calendars
  • Reminders
  • Photos
  • Share My Location
  • Bluetooth sharing
  • Microphone
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

CHANGES TO SETTINGS AND ACCOUNTS:

  • Accounts (you can prevent changes to Mail, Contacts, Calendars, iCloud, Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo, Flickr, iTunes, App Store, iMessage, and FaceTime)
  • Cellular Data Use (you can prevent changes to cellular-data settings on cellular-enabled devices)
  • Background app refresh
  • Find My Friends (available when you install the Find My Friends app)
  • Volume limit
  • Cellular data use (available only on cellular-enabled devices)

TROUBLESHOOTING:
Sometimes, with restrictions enabled, you might notice that you’re missing a particular app or feature, such as:

  • You don’t see an app on the Home screen (like Safari, Camera, or FaceTime).
  • You can’t use a certain feature or service (like Siri or Location Services).
  • You see that a setting is missing or dimmed (like Mail, Contacts, and Calendar; iCloud; Twitter; FaceTime).

If you’re missing an app or feature, try checking your restriction settings.

If you lose or forget your Restrictions passcode, you’ll need to erase your device and then set it up as a new device to remove the Restrictions passcode. Restoring the device using a backup won’t remove the passcode.

Apple offers more information here –>Use Restrictions on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Additional Resources

Set a passcode or use touch id to lock your phone.
If the phone is lost or stolen and you have Find My iPhone enabled, you can log into your account through iCloud. I have personally used this and was able to retrieve a stolen device when the thief tried to unlock the device and the device showed a “This has been stolen, call…” notice on the screen. The store they tried to sell it at gave me a call and returned the device. You have the choice to remotely wipe your phone and other handy tools from the icloud panel.

Get started here:

Set up Family Sharing
Family Sharing makes it easy for up to six people in your family to share each other’s iTunes, iBooks, and App Store purchases without sharing accounts. Pay for family purchases with the same credit card and approve kids’ spending right from a parent’s device. And share photos, a family calendar, and more to help keep everyone connected.
Set up Family Sharing

Set up an iTunes Allowance
Fund an “allowance” for your child to purchase apps and music. Set up a monthly iTunes Allowance for your kids

I hope this gets you started. I look forward to comments on any additional resources you have found.