Apple's latest online safety tools: What parents need to know
Apple is expanding its suite of parental controls and privacy features to offer families new tools for managing children's digital experiences across its platforms. The company announced updates on June 11, aimed at helping parents protect kids and teens online, part of its upcoming software releases including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26.
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The features, many of which were previously previewed, are designed to support age-appropriate usage from the moment a child sets up their device—without compromising privacy or security. These enhancements build on existing features such as Screen Time and App Store age controls, reinforcing Apple's commitment to a safer and more private digital environment for young users,
Image credit: Apple/Website
Simplifying child account setup
Apple has long supported Child Accounts—Apple IDs designed for children under 13 and available for users up to age 18 when managed by a parent or guardian within a Family Sharing group.
With the latest updates, the setup process for Child Accounts has been streamlined. Parents can now defer parts of the setup process while ensuring that age-appropriate settings are automatically enabled from the start. These features are already available on iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.
Additionally, Apple is making it easier for parents to confirm the age associated with their child's account. If the child is under 13, the system prompts parents to connect the account to their Family Sharing group. Once verified, the account is converted into a Child Account, unlocking Apple's full suite of parental control tools with default safety settings already in place.
New age range sharing with apps
A major privacy-forward update allows parents to share only their child's age range—not full birthdates—with apps, enabling developers to tailor experiences without collecting sensitive data.
Using Apple's new Declared Age Range API, developers can request access to a user's age range in order to offer age-appropriate experiences. Parents can control how this information is shared: always, per request, or never. By default, children cannot alter these settings, but parents can grant them the ability to do so via Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Apple emphasizes that this approach allows apps like weather or sports apps to function for children without requiring developers to gather unnecessary personal data, helping protect kids' identities while still enabling relevant functionality.
Extending protections to teens
Until now, Apple required that children under 13 use Child Accounts, which automatically include safety features like web content filters and app restrictions. With the upcoming OS updates, similar protections will also be applied automatically to users aged 13 to 17, regardless of their account type.
These protections include Communication Safety features and web filters, all powered by enhanced age categorisation in the App Store. These changes ensure that teens receive more consistent protections, even if their Apple Account was set up independently of Family Sharing.
Granular age ratings coming to App Store
Apple is also refining its App Store age rating system. While developers have long self-assigned age ratings for apps, a more detailed system is being introduced by year's end. The revised framework includes five categories, adding three new distinctions for adolescents: 13+, 16+, and 18+.
This change gives users and parents clearer insight into app appropriateness and allows developers to fine-tune how their apps are rated for various age groups. The new system will also integrate tightly with parental control settings such as Ask to Buy and Screen Time.
Communication limits expanded with PermissionKit
Apple's existing Communication Limits feature, which manages how and when kids can communicate via Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud, is being expanded to give parents more oversight.
With the upcoming update, children will need to send a request to their parent before initiating contact with a new phone number. Parents can approve or deny these requests directly within Messages.
In addition, Apple is introducing a new PermissionKit framework for developers. This allows kids to request parental approval to initiate chats, follows, or friend requests inside third-party apps. When implemented by developers, the framework offers another layer of control and safety for online interactions.
App Store updates for transparency and control
Apple is enhancing App Store transparency by updating product pages to show whether an app contains user-generated content, messaging capabilities, or in-app advertisements. It will also indicate whether the app includes built-in parental controls or age-assurance features.
When content restrictions are in place, apps that exceed a child's allowed age range will no longer appear in areas like the Today tab, Games, or editorial content, minimizing exposure to inappropriate content.
The Ask to Buy feature is also gaining flexibility. Parents can now approve one-time exceptions for apps that exceed a child's set age range, and just as easily revoke access through Screen Time if needed.
Communication safety now extends to FaceTime and Photos
Building on its existing Communication Safety tools, which warn children when sending or receiving explicit content, Apple is adding new capabilities:
FaceTime calls: The system will now intervene if nudity is detected during a video call.
Shared Albums in Photos: Nudity in shared images will be automatically blurred, and children will be warned before viewing.
These additions further Apple's mission to prevent unwanted exposure to explicit content while maintaining user privacy and device control.
Enhanced tools for parents and developers
The new updates are backed by a robust ecosystem of tools Apple already offers to safeguard children:
Screen Time & Ask to Buy
: Allow parents to manage screen usage and approve purchases.
Find My
: Helps locate family members.
Made for Kids section
: A curated set of age-appropriate apps held to Apple's highest privacy standards.
Limits on Apple Ads
: Blocks ads for children under 13 and restricts personalized ads for teens.
No ad tracking
: Developers cannot track or request tracking of child user behavior.
In addition, developers have access to several powerful frameworks:
ScreenTime Framework
: Enables supervision of a child's app usage.
Device Activity & Family Controls APIs
: Help customize parental control experiences.
SensitiveContentAnalysis
: Identifies and blurs sensitive imagery in apps.
Media Ratings
: Allow developers to incorporate parents' film/TV restrictions.
Looking ahead
With the launch of iOS 26 and its accompanying OS updates this fall, Apple is aiming to deliver a safer, more controlled digital experience for families—without compromising its strict privacy standards. By giving parents smarter tools and giving developers better ways to engage responsibly with young users, the tech giant continues to position itself as a leader in digital wellbeing.
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