Apple has introduced a significant update to its parental controls, granting parents enhanced capabilities to manage what their children can access on iPhones and iPads. The technology giant has launched a comprehensive set of new child safety features, including more stringent content filtering, app access controls, and tools that allow parents to approve new contacts and websites before their children can interact with them.
New Features for Child Accounts
The new child account system enables parents to set up age-appropriate protections from the moment a device is activated. Adults can choose exactly which apps their children can use, restricting access to essentials such as phone calls or messages if desired. Among the most significant additions is a feature called "Ask to browse," which allows children to seek parental permission before visiting unfamiliar websites. This feature will be enabled by default for children aged 13 and under.
Parents can also approve or reject contact requests before their children can communicate with someone new, adding another layer of protection against unwanted interactions online. Additionally, Apple has introduced new screen time tools aimed at helping families develop healthier digital habits. Parents can now set daily time allowances across categories including entertainment, gaming, and social media, while new scheduling tools allow access to apps to be restricted at different times of the day.
Expert and Government Praise
Digital wellbeing expert Dr. Jo Orlando welcomed the changes, stating that Apple worked closely with parents and researchers when developing the new tools. "They've consulted with parents around the world and they've consulted with researchers, myself one of many researchers around the globe," Orlando said. "I think these changes really hit the mark. I think they're evidence-based, and they're moving in the direction that parents actually want help from big tech."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Apple CEO Tim Cook personally called him to brief him on the new safety controls for children. "Mr. Cook told me these changes are in part inspired by Australia's world-leading social media age ban, as well as the continued research Apple is undertaking into the impact of social media on kids," Albanese said. The Prime Minister welcomed the announcement and expressed pride in Australia's leadership in keeping children safe online. "We have a long way to go and we knew it would not be easy. However, we are now seeing a number of nations follow Australia's lead and take forward their own social media age bans," he added.
Additional Enhancements
Apple has expanded its existing content filtering tools as well. In addition to detecting sexually explicit material, devices will now automatically warn children about violent or graphic imagery. The company said the daily limits are based on recommendations from clinical and child development experts, giving parents a starting point when managing their children's screen use. For families already using Apple's Family Sharing system, many of the protections will be automatically enabled. Other users can access the controls through the Settings menu by selecting their name and navigating to family options.
The PM also said he will accept an invitation from Cook to visit Apple's headquarters in the US to see the new technology in action "so we can keep learning how best to protect our kids." He noted that more than 5 million under-16s accounts have already been removed, deactivated, or restricted. "Social media companies have a social responsibility, and we make no apology for holding them to account to help keep kids safe," Albanese concluded.
