I’m looking for advice on implementing an Active Supervision Mode for enhanced parental control. My goal is to restrict access to both iOS system apps and third-party applications to create a safer and more tailored digital experience for my child.
Here’s what I’d like to achieve:
App Restrictions: Block specific apps (both iOS and third-party) and allow access only to approved ones. Time Limits: Set daily usage limits for individual apps or app categories. Content Filtering: Apply restrictions to block inappropriate content and age-inappropriate apps. Remote Management: Manage these settings remotely from my device for added convenience. Activity Monitoring: View app usage stats or receive alerts for policy violations. I understand that Screen Time on iOS offers basic parental controls, but I’m exploring whether iOS supports more advanced capabilities natively or through additional configurations.
I’ve also heard that enrolling a device in Apple Business Manager (ABM) and linking it to an MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution might provide greater control. If this is a viable solution, could anyone provide guidance on:
Enrolling a personal or family-owned device into Apple Business Manager. Linking an MDM for configuring app restrictions and monitoring usage. Alternatively, if there are third-party parental control apps that work seamlessly with iOS to achieve these goals, I’d appreciate your recommendations!
Thanks in advance for your insights!
To achieve your goals, here are the recommended approaches and how MicroMDM can help:
1. Restricting Third-Party Apps
Apple’s guidelines prevent standard apps from directly restricting third-party apps, but this can be achieved through:
- MDM Payloads: By enrolling devices in an MDM solution, you can use app restriction payloads to blacklist or whitelist apps.
2. Active Supervision Mode
Supervision unlocks additional device management capabilities, including app restrictions and web filtering. It can be enabled via:
- Automated Device Enrollment (ADE): Available through Apple Business Manager or School Manager.
- Manual Supervision: Configured using Apple Configurator but less scalable for public app distribution.
Using an MDM like MicroMDM ensures devices are automatically supervised during ADE.
3. MicroMDM as a Solution
MicroMDM is an open-source MDM server that supports:
- Device supervision during enrollment.
- Applying restriction payloads to limit app access and enforce parental control policies.
- Customizing MDM features to suit your parental control solution.
MicroMDM integrates seamlessly with Apple’s Device Enrollment Program (DEP), allowing efficient supervision and management of devices.
4. How Your App Integrates with MicroMDM
Your app can work as a companion tool to MicroMDM by:
- Guiding users through the MDM enrollment process.
- Explaining the benefits of supervision and app restrictions.
- Using MicroMDM APIs to monitor enrollment status and enforce policies.
Recommendation
MicroMDM is a powerful backend solution for supervised device management and app restrictions. Combine it with your parental control app to offer an effective and user-friendly parental control solution.
