Apple’s Six Recommendations for Children to Use Cell Phones Safely
Children and Cell Phones: The company, led by John Ternus, recommends that parents set schedules and create accounts for minors, among other measures.
Apple published a new guide developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help families establish healthy digital habits among children.
The document proposes six recommendations to balance cell phone and device usage with sleep, exercise, homework, and quality time with friends and family. The first suggestion is to start a conversation about screen time and involve minors in setting expectations.
The guide, titled Creating Healthy Digital Habits: A Guide for Families, incorporates guidelines from AAP specialists into the parental control tools available on Apple products. According to the company, the goal is for each family to be able to adapt settings and routines to the age and developmental stage of their children.
“Every family interacts with technology in its own way,” said Dr. Sumbul Desai, Vice President of Health and Fitness at Apple. “That’s why we wanted to blend the trusted guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics with the tools built right into our products.”
“That’s why we wanted to blend the trusted guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics with the tools built right into our products.”
What Other Recommendations Did Apple Provide?
In addition to discussing screen time, Apple recommended creating a Child Account. This option includes age-appropriate safety measures and allows parents to manage their children’s digital experience through parental controls.
The third recommendation is to configure safety settings for websites and apps. Among the tools mentioned are Ask to Buy and Permission-Based Browsing, which allow families to jointly review new apps and websites children wish to access.
The fourth point suggests establishing schedules for device usage using Downtime and App Limits. The proposal aims to ensure that connectivity does not displace activities such as rest, physical exercise, school obligations, or in-person time with family and friends.
Apple also advised managing minors’ communications and defining who they can interact with. The Communication Safety feature is enabled by default for all users under 18 and aims to prevent children from seeing or sharing sensitive content.
The sixth recommendation is to maintain an ongoing dialogue as children grow and adjust the family plan over time. The guide is complemented by AAP guidelines on screen time for each age group, from infants to teenagers.
“We are proud to collaborate with Apple to expand access to the Family Media Plan and help parents create routines that promote balance, safety, and healthy development,” noted Mark Del Monte, CEO of the AAP.
“We are proud to collaborate with Apple to expand access to the Family Media Plan and help parents create routines that promote balance, safety, and healthy development,” noted Mark Del Monte, CEO of the AAP.
What Is Google’s Family Link?
Google’s Family Link is a free parental control application that allows parents and guardians to monitor and manage their children’s use of Android devices and Chromebooks. The tool brings together options to set time limits, review apps, check the device’s location, and apply content filters.
Among its features, it allows setting a maximum daily limit for usage and scheduling bedtime or school hours.
Links
- Appropriate Age to Introduce a Mobile Device – American Academy of Pediatrics
- Sell your pre-owned Cell Phone online – iGotOffer
- Once More About Security and Safety – iGotOffer Blog
- Everything About Apple’s Products – The complete guide to all Apple consumer electronic products, including technical specifications, identifiers and other valuable information.
When Should Your Child Get a Phone? | Advice From a Doctor [Video]
Video uploaded by St. Louis Children’s Hospital on May 7, 2020.
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