iOS 27’s Screen Time update looks impressive — but it didn’t wow me like Android 17’s Pause Point
iOS 27’s Screen Time update looks impressive — but it didn’t wow me like Android 17’s Pause Point
Publish Date: 2026-06-13 10:00:00
Source Domain: www.techradar.com
iOS 27 and WWDC 2026 are very much the talk of the tech town right now, and I’m sure their implications will continue to be discussed for quite some time (somehow, Apple’s Liquid Glass aesthetic is still a topic of debate 12 months after its announcement).
Apple paid particular attention to child safety at WWDC 2026, announcing new features for Screen Time that aim to give parents more control over their child’s iPhone-using habits. However, as a longtime Apple fan, I’m surprised to admit that I’m far more taken with the screen time-reducing approach of Android 17 and Pause Point.
In theory, Screen Time is a good idea. The ability to set timers on apps makes sense, and giving parents more granular control over their child’s phone activity feels like a natural extension of that offering, even if existing bugs threaten to unravel Apple’s good intentions.
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The problem is, adults need their screen time checked too, and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve set a time limit for Instagram, continuously ignored it, and then removed the restriction completely. Now, with an iPhone 16 in hand, I have no Screen Time limits set up whatsoever.
(Image credit: Future / Thomas Deehan)
For me, Screen Time is just too easy to bypass. The concept works best when you’re setting it up for someone else (like your child), as you hold the keys to unrestricted access, but trying to apply those restrictions to yourself feels moot when you’re in the driver’s seat. Unless you change your behaviour in how you interact with your phone and the apps therein, the cycle is doomed to repeat itself.
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