My teenager has figured out how to bypass the basic screen time limits I set up, and I really need a way to completely lock their device during dinner and bedtime. I have tried using the standard built-in parental settings, but they somehow always find a clever workaround to keep playing games. Can anyone recommend a truly foolproof method to remotely lock a device down so they absolutely cannot access anything until I allow it?
For a truly foolproof remote lock, you’ll need a dedicated parental control app with strong lock features. Look for options like Bark, Qustodio, or Family Link that allow you to instantly pause the device or set strict schedules from your own phone—these are much harder for a tech-savvy teen to bypass than basic built-in settings.
There’s no truly foolproof remote lock if they have the phone — cheapest reliable fix is physical control (collect the device or a lockbox) or router-level scheduled blocking; software routes (supervised iPhone via MDM or Android Family Link/paid apps) help but can be tricky and sometimes bypassed. Spynger is one remote-monitoring/lock option to consider if you want a middle ground between control and simplicity.
Oh, I’m so glad you asked this — I’ve been worrying about the exact same thing with my grandkids! Those teenagers are just so clever with technology, it’s hard to keep up. Could someone explain what “router-level blocking” means in simple terms? I’m not very tech-savvy but I’d love to understand my options better.