Apple Expands Child Protection on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- New tools give parents greater control over web browsing, contacts, and screen time
Child digital protection is no longer limited to blocking app downloads or setting device usage limits. Apple has expanded its parental control tools to include web browsing, contacts, and content, as part of new updates to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
The company unveiled a suite of child safety features with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, granting parents broader control over the apps, games, and websites their children can access.
Apple shared a video on its official YouTube channel demonstrating the new safety tools and explaining how parents can set up a dedicated child account and utilize the added parental control options in the new operating systems, according to a report by Phone Arena, as cited by Al Arabiya Business.
Age-based protection
The protection tools begin with creating a Child Account, which allows parents to select settings appropriate for their child’s age and determine their level of access to apps, games, and digital content, with the ability to adjust restrictions later.
Approval required before browsing
A key addition is the “Ask to Browse” feature, which enables parents to approve or deny their children’s access to specific websites when using the Safari browser.
This feature complements “Ask to Buy,” which requires parental approval before downloading apps or making in-app purchases, thereby expanding the scope of control to cover apps, games, and websites.
Contacts
Apple has also expanded the capabilities of Communication Safety, allowing parents to approve or block new contacts, giving them additional control over their children’s communications across devices.
Managing screen time
The new tools include Time Allowances and Schedules features to control device usage time. Parents can specify the duration children are allowed to use apps, games, and devices, and set schedules for such usage.
Parental control and protection settings vary according to the child’s age, allowing restrictions to be tailored to different developmental stages.
Broader restrictions for children
Apple’s steps come amid a growing trend in several countries to tighten restrictions on children’s and teenagers’ access to certain digital services and platforms.
In Texas, USA, creating an App Store account is now linked to the user reaching the age of 18. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to introduce what he described as a new standard for future generations by banning social media access for individuals under 16.
These moves reflect a broader trend toward providing parents with more precise tools to manage their children’s digital experiences, alongside legislative and regulatory measures aimed at limiting minors’ access to certain services and platforms.
