New Delhi: In a recent discovery, a bug in Apple's software has raised concerns for parents relying on parental control features to manage their children's screen time. The bug, affecting the Downtime feature, allows children to bypass set screen time restrictions, potentially granting them unrestricted access to their devices during designated hours.

Users have reported instances where scheduled screen time limits either revert to previous settings or are completely removed, leaving parents without the intended control over their children's device usage.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the issue, Apple has confirmed the existence of the bug and is actively working on a fix to rectify the vulnerability. However, the tech giant has not yet released the solution, leaving parents in a state of concern.

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In the interim, parents are advised to take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the bug. Some recommended steps include changing the passcode for Screen Time to prevent unauthorized changes by children and enabling the "Ask to Buy" feature, which requires children to seek parental permission before downloading or installing new apps.

Furthermore, parents can employ the Screen Time app to monitor their child's device usage, set specific app or website limits, and gain insights into their digital activities.

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The bug was initially reported in May 2023 and appears to affect all devices running iOS 16 or later. Apple's commitment to addressing the issue is apparent, but parents are encouraged to stay vigilant until the fix is officially rolled out.

While the bug poses a significant concern for parents, the proactive implementation of recommended safeguards can help maintain a degree of control over children's screen time. By keeping a watchful eye on device usage and following the suggested measures, parents can ensure that their children remain within appropriate screen time boundaries until the comprehensive fix is deployed.

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