Can you give examples of the difference between Boomerang Android and Boomerang iOS?

[Vik Khanna]

The Android features of Screen Time Management, Specific App Blocking and Call/Text Monitoring are not available for iOS due to Apple’s policy of sandboxing apps; that is, an app cannot control other apps nor can apps have access to the Apple iOS.

 

How old is your child and what do you want to accomplish?  I ask since instead of handing down an old iPhone to my 14 year old, I had to go out and buy him an Android device – here is how I have his device setup:

 

1.       Allocated Screen Time of 1 hour on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends: This is when he can play games, go on Instagram, use WhatsApp and use the “authorized” apps.  This type of screen time feature is no available for iOS devices.

 

2.       Scheduled Screen Time: My son can’t use the device after 8pm and before 7am.  This type of feature is something that we will bring to iOS devices in the future with the caveat that to invoke it on iOS devices, the devices would have to be connected to the internet (crafty child could know that the bedtime command comes at 8pm and turn on airplane mode.)

 

3.       Always Allowed: The granularity that Android provides is amazing and here, I place Khan Academy, Wikipedia, Duolingo, Chess, Remind, Mom & Dad Phone Numbers as exempted from the Screen Time rules so this allows for good content to be consumed more as these do not count towards his allocated time.

 

4.       Safe Browsing: This is the same for Android and iOS Devices.  We provide SPIN Safe Browser on both platforms.

 

5.       Location: This is the same for Android and iOS Devices.

 

6.       Application Blocking: For my son, I “Block Browsers” so that only SPIN Safe Browser can be used.  For iOS, you can disable Safari so that only SPIN Safe Browser can be used but the issue is with URL links that then do not open since Apple does not allow you to change the default browser from Safari.  The other difference on Application Blocking is that we can do it per App on Android (select any App) whereas on iOS, App Blocking is done by Apple’s Age Rating.  Ex: On Android you can specifically block Facebook.  On iOS to block it you would have to restrict Apps to Age 4 since Facebook is rated 4+ (which does not make any sense since you have to be 13 to use Facebook.)

 

7.       Call & Text Logs and Monitoring features are also Android features.  This comes in handy for my Son as Calls are limited to his known Contacts so telemarketers can’t call him as any Unknown Caller is blocked from being called or calling in.