Buried Apple feature turns an iPhone into the perfect kids' dumb phone

Post by Cider9986 » Thu, Jul 09, 2026, 8:02 PM UTC

eigencoder wrote: post #49

Cider9986 wrote: post #6

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is the only effective way to restrict idevices. All you need is a macbook and Apple Configurator. You can remove safari, blacklist or whitelist websites, block installing apps, block deleting apps. It's really customizable. Edit: expanded acronym.

I've used MDM to make my iPhone dumb. It's great! I wish there was an easy way to publish my configuration so others could use it / adapt it, but it's a little involved because you have to wipe your phone the first time you set it up with configurator.

Post by floren » Thu, Jul 09, 2026, 8:05 PM UTC

littlecranky67 wrote: post #72

philips wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I parent I am downvoting this because I am quite tired of others judging parents and their technology choices- particularly when it comes to restrictions. Parenting is hard. Parenting when everything is changing so quickly is very difficult.

Way I see it, most parents give their kids early access to phones just to keep them sedated and occupied. There is zero benefit for under 14yo to have unrestricted access to the smartphone or internet. It only benefits the parents.

Post by bombcar » Thu, Jul 09, 2026, 8:07 PM UTC

baxtr wrote: post #69

eigencoder wrote: post #57

I like the feature, but I don't like the assumption at the beginning. > Come September, he will have to walk across town to school on his own. But if he's going to be walking around out in the world without me, then a tracking tag won't cut it. He is far too young to have unfettered access to the internet and social media platforms, but what if he gets lost? A classic Nokia, supplying just texts and calls, won't come…

We had some friends over last form the US. One 11 yr kid in the group was bored and said: ok I’m gonna go home now, I need the keys please. He walked home by himself - maybe 500 meters… For us Europeans it was nothing to notice really, but the Americans were absolutely shocked.

Post by nixosbestos » Thu, Jul 09, 2026, 8:08 PM UTC

eigencoder wrote: post #57

I like the feature, but I don't like the assumption at the beginning. > Come September, he will have to walk across town to school on his own. But if he's going to be walking around out in the world without me, then a tracking tag won't cut it. He is far too young to have unfettered access to the internet and social media platforms, but what if he gets lost? A classic Nokia, supplying just texts and calls, won't come…

Post by kelipso » Thu, Jul 09, 2026, 8:14 PM UTC

Grombobulous wrote: post #35

bawolff wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What age groups are we talking here, because if we're talking about a 7 year old, giving them unfettered screen time is probably bad parenting. However if we are talking about someone old enough to have gf/bf its probably also bad parenting to not let them develop their own self control around technology. They have to be an adult eventually.

I was a teenager, if that wasn’t clear. But I was more of the mindset of lending a story, I can’t say whether or not it’s relevant to the parent commenter’s scenario.