RELEASE: Following Gottheimer’s Call for Apple to Fix Parental Control and Screen Time Software Flaws, Apple Releases New Software Update

NORTH JERSEY — Today, May 18, 2023, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced that Apple released a new software update for iPhones and other devices which “Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices.” Gottheimer has been pushing Apple for months to fix this issue.

Gottheimer publicly called on Apple CEO Tim Cook to immediately fix long-standing problems with Apple’s parental controls and Screen Time software to help parents protect their children from spending too much time online and watching explicit content. Gottheimer also sent Apple a letter this week demanding answers on when these software glitches and loopholes will be fixed. 

Settings that limit screen time and restrict access to certain web content — which would prevent kids from watching pornography, R-rated movies, inappropriate TV shows, and other explicit content — have not been functioning as promised.

“After calling on Apple to give parents back the power to protect their children, I’m glad to see that they’ve listened and released a new software update to address Screen Time software flaws. This Apple update is brand new, so we’ll see if it stops Screen Time parental controls from randomly resetting after parents set them. Every parent needs to download this new Apple Screen Time software update on all of their families’ devices to protect kids from excess screen time and explicit content,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) after Apple released a software update to address Screen Time setting flaws. “Trust me, sometimes we’d love to take the smartphones, laptops, and tablets away from our kids for good, but it’s just not realistic. Kids today use these devices to do their homework, connect with their friends, and call their parents when they need help.”

Thousands of Apple product users have written to Apple sharing frustrations with Screen Time’s parental controls, noting failures including downtime, app limits, and content restrictions that all deactivated after being set or updated.

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