Consumers shouldn?t count on Apple redesigning its phones and tablets to make them less addictive for kids, say experts, who caution that good parenting may be the only solution to keep children from staring too long at screens. While two of Apple?s biggest shareholders are pushing for new features to help limit damaging screen time for children, tech observers say there?s no easy fix and the responsibility will remain with parents to do what?s best for their kids.
?I think the only area that control can come from is going to have to be direct parental limits,? says Aimee Morrison, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo who studies technology?s impact on culture.
The latest debate over how much tech companies can prevent addiction was spawned by an open letter sent by New York-based Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers? Retirement System, which collectively own US$2 billion of Apple stock. ?Apple can play a defining role in signalling to the industry that paying special attention to the health and development of the next generation is both good business and the right thing to do,? reads the letter.
?We believe addressing this issue now by offering parents more tools and choices could enhance Apple’s business and increase demand for its products.?
Apple quickly responded by saying it already has a number of parental controls built into its iPhones and iPads and ?new features and enhancements (are) planned for the future.?

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