Screen Time is a solid, no-frills parental control app that does what it says on the tin: helps you manage your kid's device usage without requiring a computer science degree. The free version is legitimately useful, and the Premium tier is priced fairly for what you get.

That said, it's not a substitute for actual parenting. The app gives you the tools—schedules, limits, pause buttons—but you still need to use them wisely. Overly rigid controls can breed resentment and sneaky workarounds (ask me how I know). The best use case is as a training-wheels system: high structure for younger kids, gradually loosening as they prove they can self-regulate.

The GPS tracking is a double-edged sword. It's reassuring for parents of younger kids, but for high schoolers it can cross into helicopter territory. And the lack of robust web filtering on iOS is a real gap—if that's a priority, you'll need to layer in other tools.

Bottom line: Screen Time is a useful addition to your parenting toolkit, especially if you're already in the Apple ecosystem. Just remember it's a tool, not a relationship. Use it to create structure and spark conversations, not to avoid them.