ScreenLimit feedback thread - £200 voucher for non testers!NOW CLOSED

[PoppyMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for those MNers who tested ScreenLimit parental control app.

Here’s what ScreenLimit has to say about the app:

“ScreenLimit is a parental control app that allows parents to remotely manage their children's screen time from a smartphone, tablet or web browser on any computer.

It works on multiple devices, cross platform on Windows PCs and laptops along with iPhones, iPads, Android and Amazon devices (not Kindle Fire Kids Edition).

Parents can set a daily time allowance, instantly block access to sites, schedule times of the day when devices cannot be used, allow or block specific apps (not iOS), send their children direct messages and reward them for good behaviour. The innovative, built-in rewards function gives children the chance to earn ‘bonus’ screen time in exchange for completing tasks and household chores.

We’re a small team of dedicated parents with a mission to ensure children have a balanced childhood. If you have any issues we’re here to help and will respond quickly! Simply drop us an email at [email protected]”

Testers: please answer the following questions:
• Do you think ScreenLimit could be useful for parents to manage screen time?
• How user-friendly did you find ScreenLimit?
• What did you think about the rewards system?
• What does ScreenLimit do really well?
• Are there any other features that you would like to see?

Please also add a review of the app in the Mumsnet reviews section

Everyone who leaves feedback on this thread and fills in the feedback survey will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £200 voucher from the store of your choice.

NON TESTERS If you’re not testing, but would like the chance to win a £200 voucher for the store of your choice, please answer the following question by sharing your reply in the feedback thread below:

What app is the most used/misused by your children?

Thanks! And Good Luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

Standard T&Cs apply

Non tester.

Again with the sodding YouTube. I hate it. One mind-numbingly boring Minecraft video after another. And his voice!!! That Stampy person makes me want to gouge my eyes out.

Non-tester - the game apps we have, especially the Sarah and Duck games and a Peppa Pig drawing game. I would never let them watch YouTube unsupervised. Some of the ads are just utterly inappropriate yo the content you're viewing (Alien movie trailer before a Moana video??? )

You tube here, we play it on the tv and I hate how things just pop up that you aren't expecting.

Dd also likes MSQRD for the filters and face swap

She's not that into tech at the moment but a lot of her friends have snap chat (age 6)

Tester

It definitely is useful. It's a great idea whixh is why I wanted to test it out. I tell the kids they can watch some stuff on the phone for 20 mins and sometimes I get so busy with what I'm doing that it's ended up being an hour before I realise!

I had a huge problem with figuring out how to use it and I would say I'm pretty tech savvy! I don't know if it was just be being daft though! This really put me off and I was going to just give up and delete the app. It was really frustrating. There wasn't a clear how to guide or at least I couldn't find it! After giving up I left it for awhile before I figured it out!

I didn't use the reward system. I actually want the kids to be online less not more so I have never incentified their screen time.

Screenlimit, I guess does what it's supposed to but it's a bit of a faff when I want to go online I have to press a pin to get in. Not sure how to get round that or if I'm using it wrongly!

I'm not sure what other features I'd like. It would be good to see how much screen time a child has used over say a week in a visual format.

Tester

Do you think ScreenLimit could be useful for parents to manage screen time?
I think the concept is great, which is why I signed up to be a tester.

How user-friendly did you find ScreenLimit?
Not very, I'm very technical and I find it a real pain to set up (ie locking myself out, before having the option to set the pin.

What did you think about the rewards system?
I like the idea, but not so sure about the fact that the kids can just claim these for themselves, without a parent

What does ScreenLimit do really well?
Its a good count timer and I like the fact it works across multiple devices.
I also like the fact that it has a block function after a certain time.
I like the preconfigured profiles, I think they're really helpful

Are there any other features that you would like to see?
It'd be geat if you could block/ hide certain apps. ie I don't mind DD having access to certain games which allow in app purchases, as I can trust her, but DS (3) would just click on anything that flashes

Other Comments

I'm really not happy installing an MDM profile, especially when they couldn't provide me with a privacy or data protection policy.

Don't fuck with my icons!!!! I spend ages setting up my ipad just so, each child has a page with their own apps grouped as i like them, but for some reason this app not only hides them but moves them, extremely frustrating.

I keep getting a facetime notification, every time I launch the app, to stop a timer, this makes me more than a little twitchy.

Sadly while I think the concept is great, and has amazing potential, there is a lot that needs to be improved before I would recommend it. Maybe I've been spoilt by having a kindle fire which has awesome parental controls.

Another vote for YouTube as most used, and also potential for misused as its so easy to go on from a perfectly acceptable video to one that isn't, we only have YouTube when we are in the room and it's loud enough for us to be aware of what's on it which is just bloody wonderful for the adult having to listen to it!

Hi everyone, here is a comment from ScreenLimit to DemiTomato's post:

"Dear DemiTomato sorry you had some issues, there is a set up guide at www.screenlimit.net/help. With regards to the PIN, ScreenLimit works best if you control the device that your child uses from another parent device or from the ScreenLimit website on any browser.

If you download ScreenLimit on a parent device and the child device and pair them together by entering the same account details you can then control the child device from the parent device without the need to use a PIN. You only need to use a PIN to override a single device that a parent shares with a child. This is explained in the help set up section.

You mention that you would like a weekly report, this function will be being added to the app shortly.

Please contact us at [email protected] for any other issues and we can guide you through the process.

Thanks, The ScreenLimit Team."

Here is another response from ScreenLimit:

"Dear MTBMummy,

Sorry you had some setup issues. You mention that you had an issue locking yourself out before having the option to set the PIN. ScreenLimit works best if you control the device that your child uses from another parent device or from the ScreenLimit website on any browser. If you download ScreenLimit on a parent device and the child device and pair them together by entering the same account details you can then control the child device from the parent device without the need to use a PIN. You only need to use a PIN to override a single device that a parent shares with a child. More information can be found in the help set up section www.screenlimit.net/help.

For the rewards system,Children can't claim rewards without parental approval. Children can claim they have completed a task, this alerts the parent so they can check the task is completed before granting the reward.

You can manage individual apps on all platforms apart from iOS (due to Apple's restrictions). We are working on an iOS version of this which will be released soon. For the MDM profile on iOS, there is information about our privacy policy on the terms and conditions when you sign up for an account. There is also a notification before you install the MDM profile about the re-arranging of apps, this is an annoyance that is due to Apple's policies and we are lobbying them to improve the system. This rearrangement also happens if you use Apple's in built restrictions.

For step by step guidance we would be delighted to assist if you email us at [email protected]

Thanks,

Jeremy Drayton
CEO ScreenLimit"

non-tester my sons love youtube as my youngest likes to watch claw machines and how to make them

Non-Tester
What app is the most used/misused by your children? Youtube/Kids Youtube. I swear it is addictive to children.

Non- Tester= The most used app in our house is definitely YouTube.

Non-tester

Another one checking in to say YouTube is the dc most used app! They are pretty good with it and tend to self-censor and ditch anything sweary or that they think is too old for them.

Non tester.

Definitely You Tube!

Non-tester: Definitely Youtube.

Non-tester You Tube

Non - tester.. CBeebies. We're still in that stage! I love it/I hate it/love it/hate it..😂

Non- tester. YouTube. There is so much stuff that is not appropriate or just plain stupid. We put parental controls on it but lots of stuff still comes through.

Non tester

YouTube - without a doubt! Like other posters my kids get all sorts of content even with parental controls in place. Worried about what they might be watching although I do try to look at the popular vloggers to check it out first!

Non tester
Again it's YouTube! It's the suggestions at the side that keep them clicking for more.

Non-tester here. Most used app is CBeebies storytime.

I had to uninstall angry birds as DD1 got obsessed by it.

Non Tester here :)

For us it is probably the camera app on the kindle! They love watching YouTube videos - stuff like Lego reviewers and drawing tutorials - and now try and make their own. Always with American accents. They take up looooads of memory so the videos don't stay on there long! I don't complain though as it keeps them entertained and it can be quite funny.

Non tester
YouTube! Drives me nuts how my Dad can spend so much time glued to it!

Most used apps are CBeebies Storytime and CBeebies Islands. My Little Pony Friendship Club starting to be used a bit more.

You Tube actually annoys them when it offers up random things they don't want. I'm sure this will change when they get a bit older.

I'm a non tester but the CBeebies apps are worn out on our iPad.

Non tester with a 3 and 4 year old the most used app in our house is Youtube Kids