Child protection with pitfalls: Apple's screen time still easy to circumvent

Apple's parental control functions can be circumvented with tricks. This was reported by Südwestrundfunk and Stiftung Warentest following joint research. Of course, this is not a new finding. Back in July 2024, interested parties were able to read on Mac & i that the “Assisted Access” operating aid can be misused to bypass activated locks. However, it is still possible to override Screen Time in iOS 18 and despite several other minor versions.

With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, the “Assisted Access” operating aid was introduced in the Apple operating systems. It actually serves a noble purpose, namely to simplify the operation of the device. The aim is to make the iPhone and iPad easier to use for people with cognitive impairments. Among other things, this is achieved with significantly larger app icons and the elimination of distracting elements such as the control center and notifications.

One simplification too many

However, as the operating aid can also automatically override app limits as a result of the simplifications, it can be misused to circumvent the screen time rules. Children can choose freely from installed apps if they set up the operating aid themselves. In the worst case – according to the findings of the Mac & i research – they can even configure the mode in such a way that parents can no longer easily exit it.

Apple apparently wants to investigate why it has been possible in “some cases” to start assisted access without entering the Screen Time password, reports Stiftung Warentest. Currently, parents can only help themselves by not installing certain apps on the device in the first place and restricting app installation to keep children away from them. Or they can set up “Supporting access” themselves and secure it with a code –. However, children may not like this due to the significant change in operation, and it could lead to usability problems with some apps.

Content filters are full of holes

Another point that SWR and Stiftung Warentest are currently addressing is gaps in the content filter of screen time. The issue here appears to lie primarily in the interaction between the Apple setting and third-party apps. While Apple's own services reliably implemented parental controls in the test, it was possible to download inappropriate content on YouTube and Spotify, for example, despite the filter being switched on.

Apparently, the providers simply do not use the programming interface (API) offered by Apple for screen time. The gap is therefore less a functional issue than a communication problem: Apple does not make it clear to parents that the filter does not work across the board, the testers criticize.

(mki)