Apple announced expanded parental controls and child safety features for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users under 13 during its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The updates allow parents to select which apps children can use, regulate website access, control contacts, and block inappropriate content in messages [1, 2, 3, 4].

The redesigned Screen Time includes more granular schedules to set different rules for entertainment, games, and social media, with variation by school days and weekends [2, 4]. Apple introduced an automatic image filtering system to block potentially harmful photos involving nudity, gore, or violence in messages and live FaceTime calls on child accounts [3, 4].

A new “Ask to Browse” feature lets children request approval to visit websites outside parental filters. Similarly, kids must get parental consent before contacting unknown people [2, 4]. Child accounts are designed for users under 13 years old, and come with age-based App Store restrictions enabled by default [1, 2].

Apple’s vice president of health and fitness, Sumbul Desai, said the company aims to help parents “thoughtfully establish age-based protections and develop healthy digital habits” for their children [1]. Apple CEO Tim Cook told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on June 8 that part of the update’s inspiration came from Australia’s law banning social media use by users under 16, enacted in December 2025 [1]. Albanese said, “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” [1].

Apple also stressed developers have a role to ensure apps provide age-appropriate experiences. Ann Thai, Apple’s senior director of marketplace platforms and technologies, said, “It’s developers who play an important role in ensuring kids are getting age-appropriate experiences within apps” [3]. Raja Bose, Apple’s director of trust and safety product marketing, noted the benefits of children having their own devices, but emphasized parental oversight [3].

The new features will arrive this fall in software updates across Apple devices [1].