App-level screen time controls for Apple ecosystem

January 17, 2022 12:43 PM

I don’t think Screen Time (tm) will do this although maybe I’m wrong. In our house, kids’ access to most apps ends at 7 (music and audiobook apps are “all the time” apps). If we want to let a kid have access to Instagram til 10, but maintain the 7pm cutoff for other apps, what’s the best way to automate that? Open to additional apps, and willing to pay.

I know it’s possible to mess with in real time, but let’s assume that’s off the table. Also, not looking for opinions about screen time, Instagram or the wisdom of letting children have access to ____.

posted by chesty_a_arthur to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Best answer: You can add both general app restrictions, individual restrictions and time limits in Screen Time.

You could do the above by adding a general Downtime starting at 7pm for all apps with Instagram excluded, then add an app limit for Instagram (either for the app itself or a website limit for Instagram.com which will also block the app) starting at 10pm.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:03 PM on January 17, 2022 [5 favorites]

Response by poster: Welp, that was fast! We’ll give it a shot. Thanks, Happy Dave! I hope your name is not ironic and that you are, indeed, happy.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:22 PM on January 17, 2022 [1 favorite]

Most days, yeah!
posted by Happy Dave at 1:27 PM on January 17, 2022 [7 favorites]

Response by poster: Update…it turns out I can’t add clock-based limits on individual apps apart from general screen time. Super frustrating. The additional limits are just cumulative time based.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 5:19 AM on February 17, 2022

Thanks for the follow up. Yes, it is super frustrating! Please give Apple feedback on it. I know so many parents who wish there were just a few more options for screen time, but Apple hasn't done anything to it for a while now.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 6:44 AM on February 17, 2022