When Apple's Family Sharing system is supposed to protect children from online harm, it sometimes turns into a source of control and coercion. The product, launched in 2014 as an "easy way to share what's important," allows parents to track their kids' locations, screen time, and activities. However, this same system can become a digital trap for families that break up or for children who are subjected to non-consensual monitoring.
For Kate, a mother whose marriage ended in separation, Family Sharing became a nightmare. Her ex-husband, the designated organizer, used the platform to track her children's movements, monitor their screen time, and limit their activities during her custody days. This was an "invasive and coercive" situation that made it impossible for Kate to cut ties with her digital past.
Apple's lack of policies regarding family breakdowns has led to such cases becoming a reality. The company relies on the assumption of traditional family structures, where one adult controls everything. However, not all families fit this mold, and these systems start to break down when they do. In darker scenarios, the single-organizer setup can become dangerous.
As a result, many families are caught in digital traps, with their digital lives becoming coercive situations even after physical separation. The situation is made worse by the lack of clear policies for such cases. Even if Apple and other companies acknowledge that family breakdowns do happen, they seem to be relying on the assumption that everything will stay "rosy."
As a consequence, many parents are left feeling frustrated and unsafe. They are forced to navigate complex systems or resort to drastic measures like deleting their accounts altogether, which can result in lost purchases, memories, and digital identities.
The issue is not just about Apple but also about the inherent dual functionality of these digital tools. They were initially designed for convenience and connection but now serve as tools for control and coercion. The problem lies in the gaps in these systems, particularly when it comes to family breakdowns and data protection law.
In order to address this issue, companies like Apple need to have better policies regarding family breakdowns. A court order should be enough to override a family group and move minors to another. It's all well and good to hope families stay together forever, but companies must acknowledge that reality.
Ultimately, the current state of play is untenable. Companies must take responsibility for ensuring that their systems do not become a source of harm or control in situations where they should be protecting children.
For Kate, a mother whose marriage ended in separation, Family Sharing became a nightmare. Her ex-husband, the designated organizer, used the platform to track her children's movements, monitor their screen time, and limit their activities during her custody days. This was an "invasive and coercive" situation that made it impossible for Kate to cut ties with her digital past.
Apple's lack of policies regarding family breakdowns has led to such cases becoming a reality. The company relies on the assumption of traditional family structures, where one adult controls everything. However, not all families fit this mold, and these systems start to break down when they do. In darker scenarios, the single-organizer setup can become dangerous.
As a result, many families are caught in digital traps, with their digital lives becoming coercive situations even after physical separation. The situation is made worse by the lack of clear policies for such cases. Even if Apple and other companies acknowledge that family breakdowns do happen, they seem to be relying on the assumption that everything will stay "rosy."
As a consequence, many parents are left feeling frustrated and unsafe. They are forced to navigate complex systems or resort to drastic measures like deleting their accounts altogether, which can result in lost purchases, memories, and digital identities.
The issue is not just about Apple but also about the inherent dual functionality of these digital tools. They were initially designed for convenience and connection but now serve as tools for control and coercion. The problem lies in the gaps in these systems, particularly when it comes to family breakdowns and data protection law.
In order to address this issue, companies like Apple need to have better policies regarding family breakdowns. A court order should be enough to override a family group and move minors to another. It's all well and good to hope families stay together forever, but companies must acknowledge that reality.
Ultimately, the current state of play is untenable. Companies must take responsibility for ensuring that their systems do not become a source of harm or control in situations where they should be protecting children.
. I mean, I get it, Family Sharing was meant to be helpful, but not at the cost of your sanity and trust 
. It's like, companies should know that every family is different and some just don't fit into that traditional mold 
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. And what really freaks me out is that there's no clear policy in place to deal with these situations 
. It's like, Apple and other companies just assume everything will be okay, which isn't the case.
. And yeah, maybe some parents have to make drastic decisions like deleting their accounts, but that's not a solution 
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companies need to step up their policies and acknowledge that family structures come in all shapes and sizes 
we should be protecting kids online, not controlling them 
. It's like apple assumes every family is still stuck in that perfect little picture 
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. It's time to move away from the 'all for one' approach and consider individual needs 
. We can't keep relying on hope that families will always stay 'together forever' 
- life happens, and digital tools need to adapt 
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I'm so frustrated about this Family Sharing thing. Did you know that 70% of parents are now using these apps to track their kids' activities, but only 20% of them have the technical skills to use it properly 
? It's like they're just throwing out a bunch of data without considering what might happen when families break up.
. It's like, come on Apple! You're not even acknowledging that family breakdowns happen.
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anyway what's going on with Apple's Family Sharing system? seems kinda scary that a mom got tracked by her ex 
It's like, companies need to think outside the box (or in this case, the family) and acknowledge that not all families are traditional.
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. This is a huge issue, and I hope companies like Apple listen up 
!
. It's so easy for the wrong people to get access to kids' info, especially when the parents are separated. I'd love to see some actual policies in place to prevent this kinda stuff from happening. Like, what if the other parent just wants to track their kid's location for "convenience" sake? That's not gonna end well 
. Apple needs to step up their game and make sure these systems are actually protecting kids, not controlling them 
. And yeah, it's not just Apple, all these digital tools need some serious overhaul 
Apple's Family Sharing system sounds like it can easily go from helping parents track their kids' online activity to being a tool for controlling and coercing them, especially in cases of separation or abuse. I need more info on how these systems are regulated and what safeguards are in place to prevent this kind of situation happening 
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The way some family sharing apps are designed can be super controlling and even hurtful when families break up. It's like, parents just want to keep an eye on their kids, but the system goes too far and becomes a trap. Companies need to rethink how they handle situations where families aren't together anymore. It's not always easy for parents to navigate these issues and sometimes it feels like Apple is just assuming that everyone's life will be perfect all the time. That's just not true! 
. And you're right, Apple needs some serious policies in place for situations like this. I mean, can't they just have some clear guidelines or something? It's not like they're expecting families to stay together forever 
. It's mind-blowing to think about how easily Apple's Family Sharing can turn into a nightmare for families going through breakups. I mean, it's one thing to want to keep an eye on your kids, but come on! 
When the ex-partner is controlling the account, that's just not right. It's like they're taking away the other parent's ability to connect with their own child.