Why Does Shelta Work Differently?
You might be wondering why Shelta asks you to "supervise" your child's device, and why that requires starting fresh. Let us explain in plain terms, no technical jargon. We promise!
The Problem with Most Parental Control Apps
You've probably tried other parental control apps before: Bark, Qustodio, Life360, or Apple's built-in Screen Time. And you've probably noticed something frustrating: kids figure out how to get around them.
Kids download VPN apps that bypass content filters entirely. There are YouTube tutorials teaching them exactly how to do this.
Many parental control apps can simply be deleted by the child, or they stop working after an iOS update.
Kids learn to reset Screen Time by signing out of iCloud, or they use bugs to bypass time limits.
Some kids get old phones from friends or buy cheap devices that have no restrictions at all.
This isn't because these apps are poorly made. It's because of how they work. They run as regular apps on top of iOS, which means iOS treats them like any other app, which gives kids ways to work around them.
What Makes Shelta Different
Shelta uses something called "device supervision". It's the same technology that schools, hospitals, and businesses use to manage thousands of iPhones and iPads.
Supervision isn't an app that runs on top of iOS. It's a setting built directly into the operating system by Apple.
Content restrictions happen at the OS level, not through network filtering. VPNs don't help.
There's no app to delete. Removal requires navigating deep into Settings, and you'll be alerted immediately if it happens.
Even if the management profile is removed, the device stays supervised. iOS updates don't affect it.
Important: What You Should Know
We believe in being upfront with parents. Here's the honest truth about how Shelta works:
Can kids remove Shelta?
On personally-owned devices, Apple requires that management profiles be removable through Settings. This is an Apple platform requirement that applies to all parental control apps that use MDM technology (Bark, Qustodio, Mobicip, etc. all face this same limitation).
However, Shelta is much harder to remove than a regular app. There's nothing to delete from the home screen. Your child would need to navigate to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management, and know what to look for. Most kids don't.
Here's the key: You'll be alerted
If your child does attempt to remove the management profile, you'll receive an immediate alert. This turns a potential weakness into a conversation starter. You'll know if your child is trying to circumvent the rules, which is often more valuable than the protection itself.
What Shelta CAN'T be bypassed by
- VPNs and proxy apps (OS-level restrictions aren't affected)
- Deleting an app (there's no app to delete)
- iOS updates (supervision survives updates)
- Resetting settings (supervision persists)
"Why Do I Have to Wipe the Device?"
This is the most common question we get, and it's a great one! Here's the honest answer:
Apple designed it that way for safety. Supervision is powerful and gives you complete control over the device. To prevent bad actors from taking over someone's phone, Apple requires that supervision can only be enabled during the initial device setup (the "Hello" screen you see when you first turn on a new iPhone).
Think of it like this: if someone stole your phone, you wouldn't want them to be able to "supervise" it and lock you out. By requiring a fresh start, Apple ensures only the rightful owner can enable supervision.
The good news: You only have to do this once! After the device is supervised, it stays that way. And your child's most important stuff (photos, contacts, and app purchases) syncs through iCloud automatically. After setup, they sign into their Apple ID and it all comes back.
What Happens to My Child's Data?
Your child's iPad will be set up fresh, but most of their stuff syncs through iCloud. Here's what comes back:
- Photos and videos (if iCloud Photos is on)
- Contacts
- Notes and reminders
- Calendars
- Safari bookmarks
- All purchased apps
- Music purchases
- Game progress (if game uses cloud saves)
- In-app purchases (tied to Apple ID)
- App data stored only on device (some games, some apps)
- Text messages (unless iCloud Messages is on)
- Health data (unless synced to iCloud)
Check important apps before starting to see if they have cloud sync.
Before starting: Make sure iCloud Photos and iCloud Contacts are turned on. Go to Settings > [Name] > iCloud and check that Photos and Contacts show as ON. Wait for syncing to complete before starting setup.
A Note About Privacy
We know some parents worry about privacy, both their child's and their own. Here's what Shelta does and doesn't do:
Shelta Does:
- Set screen time limits
- Block inappropriate websites
- Restrict or allow specific apps
- Enforce bedtime and downtime schedules
Shelta Doesn't:
- Read your child's messages
- View their photos or videos
- Track everything they type
- Record calls or conversations
Shelta is about boundaries, not surveillance. We believe kids deserve privacy, and parents deserve peace of mind. You get both.
Ready to Get Started?
Now that you understand how supervision works, let's set up your child's device. Our step-by-step guide will walk you through everything.
View Setup Guide