What the Tech? Kids and Incognito Mode

(ABC 6 News) – Apple offers several features for parents to monitor what and how long kids are online. One of those features is “Screen Time, ” which allows parents to set app time limits. But many kids are using that same safety feature to spend time on apps and websites.

For example, parents will limit their kids to an hour a day on Instagram or TikTok. Kidsan use Screen Time to set those time limits. When the time is up, those apps will no longer open.

Recently, many kids have shared TikTok videos showing how they’re getting around those time limits.

Here’s the thing many parents may not know.: kids can visit social media platforms in a web browser. By opening Google Chrome or Safari and entering “tiktok.com”, they recieve unlimited TikTok time. If they visit sites in “incognito mode”, it won’t be blocked, and parents won’t know how much time they spend. Websites visited in incognito mode, don’t show up when you check “Screen Time”.

Parents serious about blocking certain websites can go into settings on their kid’s phones. Under ‘screen time’ choose “Content and Privacy Restrictions” and make sure it’s turned on. Add a password if you’re asked.

You can choose to allow or block certain apps and websites. Then under content settings, find “limit adult websites” and turn it on.

This disables the use of ‘incognito or private mode on iPhones’. So, any website they visit will be included in Screen Time which you can check.

I should mention that this only works for the Safari browser. If you Google Chrome on their phone, they can visit any website for as long as they want in incognito mode.