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Re:About communication safety in Messages by codedokode on Thursday July 28, 2022 @05:22AM (#32262117)
It is not OK that children have access to adult phones and adult Internet.

Apple should fix this by creating a kid mode, where the user can only contact people approved by parents and visit sites approved by parents or conforming to kid safety requirements. In this case the children will be perfectly safe.

Why Apple doesn't do it? I guess because it is unprofitable, it requires major investments and doesn't promise any returns.

Kids must be banned from the Internet completely instead of trying to patch different issues here and there.

Re:About communication safety in Messages by jrmann100 on Thursday July 28, 2022 @05:38AM (#32262248)
These features exist! Apple includes parental controls under "Screen Time" and they works very well. You can whitelist contacts and websites, and even extend them remotely, as an administrator of a child's device.

For restricting access to the internet: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304 For restricting access to contacts: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/set-up-screen-time-fo...

Re:About communication safety in Messages by freeman478 on Thursday July 28, 2022 @05:33AM (#32262215)
This exists already as part of Family Sharing.

You can do everything you said when you manage your kids accounts (manage contacts, whitelist internet websites, define appropriate content ratings and so on.

Re:About communication safety in Messages by lostlogin on Thursday July 28, 2022 @05:57AM (#32262389)
> You can do everything you said when you manage your kids accounts (manage contacts, whitelist internet websites, define appropriate content ratings and so on.

Have you tried? It's a dumpster fire.

Child requests app purchase > I get notification > It wants my AppleID password > I go to password manager to get password, but this dismisses the notification.

I believe it's getting a bit of love this OS cycle, but it's hopeless currently.

Re:About communication safety in Messages by codedokode on Thursday July 28, 2022 @05:39AM (#32262259)
This is not enough because in reality (I guess) most parents do not bother with setting this up (or don't know how to do it) and as a result kids stay unprotected. Maybe there should be a law requiring to setup such settings and a one-click option to switch to restricted mode without having to toggle every checkbox.
Re:About communication safety in Messages by john_the_writer on Thursday July 28, 2022 @06:21AM (#32262540)
Way easier.. full parental control, no phone for the kids. 100% effective.

I got my first phone at 35. I figure my kids can wait a bit.

Re:About communication safety in Messages by jon-wood on Thursday July 28, 2022 @05:33AM (#32262213)
They do. iDevices can be setup with a managed Apple account which allows whitelisting contacts, accessed websites, and permission to be granted before installing apps.
Re:About communication safety in Messages by lostlogin on Thursday July 28, 2022 @06:01AM (#32262417)
Have you used it? It's really horrible. It said I could share Apple Music with my family, so I gave my father access. Now I pay for all his purchases.

I required approval for a child's app purchases. The notification is dismissed when I try to get password from password manager.

Shared photo albums? In a family? This is looks to be getting some attention now, rather belatedly.

Re:About communication safety in Messages by watwut on Thursday July 28, 2022 @05:33AM (#32262214)
Nah, opt in feature like this is better. Because it is actually useable for parents. The all in everything locked kids modes are too much of annoyance for everyone involved to be used.
Re:About communication safety in Messages by codedokode on Thursday July 28, 2022 @05:45AM (#32262300)
Maybe the locked mode for children should be required by the law because many parents are too lazy or not competent enough to setup a phone properly for their kids.
Re:About communication safety in Messages by watwut on Thursday July 28, 2022 @06:41AM (#32262666)
Nice try, but no. If you create ridiculous hurdles, people won't use it.

Meanwhile, the opt in button for this is simple, clear and easy.

Re:About communication safety in Messages by samatman on Thursday July 28, 2022 @03:41PM (#32269215)
Yes. Apple should have such a mode.

Maybe make a support page about one of its features.

That could get posted to Hacker News.

I could continue.