I'm looking for a free app to track/block the internet access on a kids phone. Any suggestions? IPhone platform
Thanks

Use Apple's iPhone parental controls?
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304

parental controls on the iPhone work, however I have a recurring issue where the screen time code gets removed, and all the things I set get turned off. It's really annoying. Only answer from Apple is that they say my kid knows the passcode, and is undoing it all - which is 100% impossible.

CapCity12thMan said:

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parental controls on the iPhone work, however I have a recurring issue where the screen time code gets removed, and all the things I set get turned off. It's really annoying. Only answer from Apple is that they say my kid knows the passcode, and is undoing it all - which is 100% impossible.

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Have you checked the "Share across devices" setting? If your kid has more than one device on their Apple ID, that setting can mess things up if it's not set ON on all their devices. Or if you are using a different parental control app they will interfere with that as well (e.g. something installed on one device but not others). Just a thought.

Not sure if this fits your use case....but check out OurPact.

It is an app that you have on your phone and you "load" it via PC on their phone. You can set restrictions on a per app basis and per timeframe basis. I have all non "basic" functions (phone, text, alarm, etc) cutoff at 10:30pm at night and turn back on at 6:30am.

You can also shut them down ANYTIME remotely. I do this when I call and text my teenagers and they do not respond. They call me back as soon as I shut them down. IE: they can't use SnapChat, Insta, TikTok, etc.

We use Bark and love it. It will allow scheduled access and you turn certain apps and websites on/off. It will even monitor texting and photos etc if you choose.

This is my reference code

https://www.bark.us/?ref=2N2C6CX

my question - if I have to install something on my kids phone to manage it, how do I prevent him from uninstalling it

he only has an iPhone.

I've been on with apple support and they have taken control over my phone and says it all "looks good", but sure enough that night or next day, all my settings are removed and I have to start over.

I also do not understand on the Downtime setting, why you have to explicitly say "Block during downtime"...why would I setup a bunch of rules and not block - that makes no sense to me.

CapCity12thMan said:

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my question - if I have to install something on my kids phone to manage it, how do I prevent him from uninstalling it

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I think you can turn off the ability on an iphone for them to delete apps.

cruiserag2020 said:

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CapCity12thMan said:

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my question - if I have to install something on my kids phone to manage it, how do I prevent him from uninstalling it

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I think you can turn off the ability on an iphone for them to delete apps.

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You can. It's under Screen Time -> Content & Privacy Restrictions -> iTunes & App Store Purchases.

You can limit installing apps and deleting apps separately.

CapCity12thMan said:

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he only has an iPhone.

I've been on with apple support and they have taken control over my phone and says it all "looks good", but sure enough that night or next day, all my settings are removed and I have to start over.

I also do not understand on the Downtime setting, why you have to explicitly say "Block during downtime"...why would I setup a bunch of rules and not block - that makes no sense to me.

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I have four kids, all with iPhone Screen Time and I set it from my iPhone (something else you can check to see if you've added them to your family account - what are the settings on your or others phones that are set up as 'parents' as any setting there overrides the child's device).

That 'Block' setting is a convenience setting if you want to 'advise' your child that they should stop using the device rather than a hard lock (if you turn it off). This is primarily for older kids that may end up being out and about later than your scheduled end time, but you don't want to just essentially disable their device.

Your other option is to set individual apps on the "always allowed" list if you want to be granular for that scenario.

I wonder if Tailscale would be a good use case here?

https://tailscale.com/

This sets up a tailnet that remotely connects you to your home network. But there's a feature that allows you to override local DNS for your connected devices so instead of using Google's or Cloudlare's DNS servers, you could filter through something like NextDNS, which has parental control capabilities. If you locked the VPN toggle on their device so they are always connected to Tailscale, this would ensure they are only going through whatever DNS servers you have set up.

Apparently, NextDNS also integrates with Apple to install profiles. https://apple.nextdns.io/
Wouldn't need to use Tailscale in this scenario.

Just giving you ideas OP. Good luck.

CapCity12thMan said:

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my question - if I have to install something on my kids phone to manage it, how do I prevent him from uninstalling it

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For the app I recommended (OurPact) as well as Bark most likely, it is not an app you install. You install the software through a PC for the kids phone. It is very easy. They don't see an app, but the apps you want to block, either permanently or on a time schedule, disappear off their phone. There is nothing for them to uninstall unless they root the phone, which they can't with an iPhone.

You have the app on your phone that allows you to block, schedule time, etc.

You can see what apps they install, approve/decline certain apps, etc.

I use OurPact to "turn off" apps that I choose between 1030pm and 630am so they aren't up all night on their phones. I used to take their phones at night but I travel quite a bit and my wife would not support me on that, so I became the bad guy. With this, I setup schedules and it is automatic every night.

I also use it when they won't respond to me remotely. Won't answer phone calls or texts, fine, I lock their phone remotely where they can only use the apps I approve (phone, imessage) and not ones I don't (SnapChat, Insta, games,etc). Basically lock everything "fun" on their phone until they respond to me.

You can lock the whole thing if you want, but my wife and I have different philosophies on this. I tell my kids all the time, "do what you need to do before you do what you want to do". If they get their HW done and have good grades, you can hang with your friends all weekend. My wife is too trusting and doesn't monitor their grades or daily tasks, so she is shocked when they don't perform grade wise. Once you get a 72 on a test, it takes near perfection to get that back to an A. I use this as an automatic gatekeeper so I don't have the nightly fight over taking their phone..

Their phones should be a reward to getting HW done, getting good grades, etc, but they view it as their right.

Hey there!

For monitoring your kid's internet activity on an iPhone, you might want to check out 'Parental Web Content App.' It's a free application designed to help you track and block internet access. It provides a user-friendly interface and effective controls to ensure your child's online safety. Give it a try and see if it suits your needs. Also, when managing web content, it's essential to be cautious about the websites your child visits. Make sure to keep an eye on their online activities and consider limiting access to certain sites, especially those that might pose risks. Stay vigilant! By the way, I noticed the link you provided https://gbwhatsapp.net/gb-whatsapp-apk/, but it seems to be related to a different service. Make sure to focus on tools specifically designed for parental control to ensure a safer online experience for your child.

Best of Luck!!