How do I manage contacts on Screen Time?

Answered by Jeremy Urbaniak

To manage contacts on Screen Time, you can set communication limits to control who your child can communicate with on their iPad. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Turn on Screen Time: If you haven’t already, go to Settings on the iPad and tap on Screen Time. If prompted, tap Turn On Screen Time. Then tap Continue and select This is My Child’s iPad.

2. Set Communication Limits: Once you’re in the Screen Time settings, tap on Communication Limits. This will allow you to manage who your child can communicate with.

3. Limit communication at any time: To limit communication, tap on During Screen Time. This will give you options to choose from:

– Contacts Only: Selecting this option will allow your child to communicate only with the contacts they have saved on their iPad. Any other form of communication will be restricted.

– Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact: If you choose this option, your child will be able to communicate with their contacts as well as with any groups that include at least one of their contacts.

– Everyone: This option removes any communication restrictions, allowing your child to communicate with anyone who contacts them.

Choose the option that you feel is appropriate for your child’s needs and level of responsibility.

4. Additional Settings: Screen Time also provides additional settings to further customize communication limits. You can tap on Allowed Communication to specify which apps your child can use for communication. This allows you to control the apps they can use to communicate, such as Messages, FaceTime, or third-party messaging apps.

Furthermore, you can also tap on Always Allowed to select specific contacts that will always be available for communication, even during downtime or when limits are in place.

Remember, these settings are designed to help you manage your child’s communication on their iPad. It’s important to have open conversations with your child about responsible online behavior and to regularly review and adjust these settings as necessary.

In my personal experience, managing contacts on Screen Time has been a useful tool to ensure that my child is communicating with the right people and maintaining a healthy balance with their device usage. It provides peace of mind knowing that they are interacting with trusted contacts while still having the ability to engage with others when necessary.

Managing contacts on Screen Time is a helpful feature that allows you to have control over your child’s communication on their iPad. By setting appropriate limits and having open discussions, you can create a safe and responsible digital environment for your child.