Apple announced the new parental control features it has developed to ensure that children have safer experiences in the digital environment. Among the innovations that the company will introduce with the software updates to be released in the autumn are easier child account setup, new permission mechanisms, more detailed management of application usage times and the renewed Screen Time experience. With these updates, Apple aims to enable parents to more easily control the content their children can access, the people they can communicate with, and the application usage time.
Apple Vice President of Health and Fitness Dr. Sumbul Desai stated that the company sees user security as a priority when developing technology. According to Desai, since every child’s needs are different, it is important to provide parents with flexible and easy-to-understand tools. The new features also aim to create age-appropriate protections and support healthy digital habits.
Apple’s child account system is at the heart of a safe digital experience for children. The company will direct parents to create a child account during new device setups. Thanks to these accounts, it will be possible to block websites with adult content, filter age-appropriate media content, and apply age-based restrictions in the App Store. While Apple requires a child account for users under the age of 13, it continues to offer this option for users up to the age of 18.
Once a child account is created, parents will be able to initially determine which applications their children can access. Options will be offered, such as selecting only basic applications, choosing a limited set of applications prepared by Apple, or making use of applications determined entirely by parents. Thus, the scope of use of the device can be expanded in a controlled manner over time.
Ask to Browse and new communication permissions are coming
The Ask to Buy feature, which Apple has offered for a long time, allowed children to obtain parental approval before downloading applications from the App Store or making in-app purchases. The company is now adding a new system to this called Ask to Browse. Thanks to this feature, children will have to get permission from their parents when they want to access websites they have not visited before via Safari. The Ask to Browse feature will work on iPhone, iPad and Mac devices.
New security measures also come into play on the communication side. Parents can currently manage who their children can communicate with in the Messages, FaceTime and Phone apps. After the new update, parental consent may be required for children to communicate with a new person. This approach especially aims to prevent younger users from communicating with people they do not know.
Apple is also expanding its Communications Security feature. Until now, the system was detecting and blurring images containing nudity in Messages and FaceTime calls. With the new version, images and videos containing violence or blood can also be detected and blocked. The feature will be enabled by default for users under 18.
There are also important innovations in managing application usage times. Thanks to the new Time Allowances system, parents will be able to define separate usage periods for different categories such as entertainment, games and social media. When determining these periods, Apple will also offer recommendations based on expert research according to the age of the child. However, the final decision will be with the parents and the settings can be changed at any time.
In addition, daily and weekly programs can be created. By defining which applications can be used at certain times, parents will be able to help children maintain their attention, especially during school hours. This system also allows setting different rules for different days.
Screen Time application gains a simpler and more understandable appearance with its new design. Parents will be able to see their children’s device usage times and the most frequently used applications on a single screen. It will also become easier to instantly limit application access or extend the usage period. Apple states that these changes will offer the quick control mechanisms that families need in daily life.
The company also launched a new information website for parents. This platform includes guides, frequently asked questions and installation information about child safety devices. Apple is also touting its existing solutions, such as Screen Time password notifications, harmful content reporting tools, and Apple Watch For Your Kids. Designed especially for children who do not have their own iPhone, the Apple Watch solution offers features such as location tracking, messaging and school time mode.
There are also some innovations on the developers’ side. Apple is providing new tools so app makers can deliver age-appropriate experiences. These include SensitiveContentAnalysis, which helps detect sensitive content, PermissionKit for transactions requiring parental approval, and Declared Age Range API, which allows learning the user’s age range without sharing their date of birth.
These new features will be available in iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 with the Screen Time update. The innovations announced by Apple aim to reduce the risks that children may encounter in the digital environment, while also providing parents with more detailed control options. This approach focuses on creating an age-appropriate and controlled experience rather than completely restricting device use.