New Screen Time Feature Will Send Direct Messages If Children Want Extended Playtime

Parental Controls feature update for iOS 16 (photo: Apple)

JAKARTA - During Apple's WWDC event, the company announced a new feature in Screen Time, or another term for parental controls on its phones. This feature will come with the iOS 16 update.

Screen Time may have been launched since 2018. With Screen Time, you as a parent can control what your child does using their Apple device and manage their playtime.

In the update, you will receive a notification via iMessage if your beloved son or daughter asks for an extension to open their favorite app.

If before, you will have to navigate to Settings to agree to the additional time. With the update, parents can respond directly to Messages sent.

This feature allows you to give parents four options: agree for 15 minutes, one hour, all day, or disagree. This feature will come with Apple's new iOS 16 software update this fall.

The announcement of this update comes with another announcement, namely the Quick Start feature. This feature allows parents to set age-appropriate limits for apps, movies, books and music.

Parents can manage all with controls once adjusted. Apple will also suggest age-appropriate limits based on the child's age if the parent doesn't want to configure it manually.

Another feature announced by Apple is the Family Checklist. This feature will include helpful tips like how to update your child's settings as they get older, how to turn on location sharing, and information about how to share your iCloud Plus subscription with everyone.