Parental controls and Safari extensions

On iOS, if you have the 'Limit adult content' restriction enabled, then it becomes impossible to enable or disable Safari extensions while this restriction is in effect. This allows developers to create effective content blockers to restrict inappropriate content.


I expect the same functionality on the Mac platform, such that if a standard user account has parental controls and 'Limit adult content' enabled, then it should be impossible for that user to disable Safari extensions. However this is not the case - the resticted user can enable / disable extensions freely.


It this a bug or intended functionality?

I believe this hasn't been addressed yet, and +1 for this functionality on macOS.

On iOS 17, you can prohibit your kids from disabling/enabling extensions by limiting adult websites from the Settings app > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Store, Web, Siri & Game Center Content > Web Content. However, on macOS Sonoma, you can't prohibit them similarly.

I'm a developer of a Safari extension called Redirect Web for Safari, which can redirect users from any web page to another. Some users use it to protect their kids from unwanted websites. Recently, I received user feedback to add passcode protection so their kids won't be able to turn off the redirect rules. However, if the kids can turn off the extension, they can bypass the protection by turning it off, diminishing the benefit of the passcode protection. Therefore, this functionality is essential to implement it.

If you, reading my comment, have the same demand, I hope you will push the Boost button of this thread. Furthermore, I sent a feature request to Apple as FB14709779 through Feedback Assistant. It would be great if you could also submit it. The more feedback we send, the higher the possibility that Apple will prioritize this issue.

Parental controls and Safari extensions
 
 
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