Apple of his sigh

Rosenstein pressed on iPhone tack

Hedge fund mogul Barry Rosenstein found himself playing defense on Tuesday.

The Jana Partners founder was pressed on his very public move to get Apple to become more socially responsible — while Jana is trolling for dollars for a new fund that is being set up to invest in socially responsible companies.

Rosenstein’s Jana Partners urged Apple in a letter on Saturday to do more to curb youth iPhone addiction.

“Parents need to help,” Rosenstein said in a CNBC interview, adding that it is difficult to navigate the sea of existing parental control features and apps.

His remarks were delivered hours after the iPhone maker announced “new features and enhancements” are in the works to better protect kids. The new mea- sures are in addition to features it has had in place since 2008, Apple said.

This is an “easy fix” for Apple, Rosenstein said, adding that he was “encouraged” by the company’s announcement.

But the interview turned tense as Rosenstein and his colleague Charles Penner found themselves defending an activist stake in a company that already claims to be doing what it is being asked to. There are apps that may be more harmful to children, the hedgies were told.

“Apple is the smartest place to start,” Penner said, adding that it is “the gateway to these more problematic apps.”

The Apple move is a new type of play for Jana, which is better known for urging break-ups or mergers than for the company it targets.

Although the new fund has yet to launch, Rosenstein said he didn’t want to wait to make the Apple investment, believing that company could soon be hurt by “growing societal unease” with technology.

Jana teamed up with the California State Teachers’ Retirement System in its letter to Apple.

Apple has formed a committee to research and promote better iPhone habits.

Apple shares closed Tuesday at $174.33, down 2 cents.