New Apple Software Helps Limit Smartphone Use
For Apple users worried about how much time they and their children spend posting photos and videos to their devices, help is on the way.
Apple has announced new controls that will allow parents to remotely limit the amount of time their children spend on iPhones and iPads, as well as hold up a mirror to their own online habits. The feature will be available in the next software update.
The move comes as the tech industry faces criticism that it has successfully made its smartphones and apps addictive with little thought for how people's lives may be negatively affected by the distraction of constantly checking their devices.
Earlier this year, major Apple shareholders wrote to the company asking that it do more to help parents by providing tools to limit children's screen time, while looking at how being online constantly affects customers' mental health.
Apple appears to have listened to some of these concerns. It is introducing "Screen Time," an app that will give users a weekly report about how much time they spend on their devices and on specific apps, as well as new ways to limit the habit.
Parents can give their children screen time allowances — a specific amount of time they can play a video game or check in with friends on apps such as Snapchat. Once they hit the limit, children will have to ask parents to increase the time allowance.
"We're empowering people with the facts that will allow them to decide for themselves how they want to cut back," Apple CEO Tim Cook said.
