digital safety

Buried Apple Feature Turns an iPhone into the Perfect Kids' Dumb Phone

3 months ago

The author's son needs a phone for safety while walking to school, but they want to avoid unrestricted internet and social media access.
Assistive Access in iOS 17, designed for cognitive disabilities, allows creating a simplified interface with only selected apps, blocking browsers like Safari and preventing link access in messages.
Setup involves choosing a grid layout, selecting allowed apps (e.g., Calls, Messages, Maps), and setting a passcode to toggle the mode, offering tracking and navigation without monthly fees.
The feature overrides Screen Time limits, runs sluggishly, can't turn off the phone in this mode, and had a Messages app freeze issue, but it's secure with no workarounds unless the passcode is shared.
Apple doesn't promote Assistive Access for children, but iOS 27's revamped Screen Time will include similar Safari-blocking ability, and the author converted an old iPhone 13 into a cost-effective 'dumb phone.'