Every parent knows the sinking feeling: you hand your child an iPhone and hope for the best. You set up Screen Time, maybe install a filter — but deep down you know there are gaps. Apps your filter can't see inside. Private browsing tabs. Snapchat messages that vanish. LivingRoom for Families was built for that exact anxiety, and it takes a radically different approach to solving it.^1
Instead of trying to block content one URL at a time, LivingRoom records your child's entire screen. About once per minute, a screenshot is saved to your private parent dashboard — capturing activity across every app, every browser, every chat, including incognito windows and disappearing messages. If your child turns off the recording, the internet shuts off automatically. It's that simple, and it genuinely cannot be bypassed.^2 The app uses Apple's Family Sharing and device supervision to lock itself in place, so a tech-savvy kid can't uninstall it or work around it. It's the kind of comprehensive visibility that most parental controls promise but few deliver.
What makes LivingRoom's philosophy different is its emphasis on transparency over restriction. Your child sees a recording indicator on their screen — a constant, gentle reminder to use their device as if a parent were watching. The founders believe this builds digital responsibility and trust rather than just fear and frustration.^1 And with the latest update (v1.2.0), LivingRoom now includes on-device sensitive image analysis that blocks the creation and viewing of inappropriate material — a privacy-preserving layer on top of the screenshot accountability.^3
LivingRoom was built by Chris Woolfe and Ben Bozzay — two dads who saw the same problem from different angles. Chris is an iOS developer who has built apps for brands like Krispy Kreme, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Wendy's, and more recently developed systems for national security. He built LivingRoom as "an act of love" for his oldest son. Ben is the founder of Tech Lockdown, a platform that has reached millions of people seeking freedom from pornographic content, and brings deep expertise in DNS filtering and Apple device management. Both are believers who see this work as kingdom-focused.^4
Why Christians Love LivingRoom for Families: "I built this app for my son. I wanted it to exist three years ago and it's finally here! I love having a window into his world and he loves showing me what he's learning and playing. I have peace of mind giving him a bit more freedom because we both know that freedom comes with responsibility. Thank you Jesus!"^3 This review from Chris captures the heart behind LivingRoom — it's not about surveillance, it's about knowing your child's world well enough to walk through it with them. Another user shared: "Doesn't slow down the phone at all, lets you use Safari & other iOS apps, also lets you exclude banking apps, etc from screen recording."^3 Parents on Reddit have noted LivingRoom as one of the only apps that takes the screen recording approach, making it uniquely comprehensive compared to DNS-based alternatives.^6
LivingRoom also works for adults — some use it as a strict screen accountability tool, with a separate setup guide available through Tech Lockdown for those seeking personal accountability in their fight against pornography.^2
Platforms: iOS (iPhone & iPad, requires iOS 17.0+) Pricing: Subscription (monthly) — 7-day free trial
