Apple's New Tools Give Parents iPhone Control

Apple has significantly enhanced its parental control features to empower parents in managing their children's iPhone usage. The updated tools allow parents to dictate who children can communicate with, which apps they can utilize, and what websites they can visit. These new capabilities build upon existing Screen Time technology, offering more refined control.

Safeguards are now age-tailored when setting up new child accounts, automatically restricting adult content and inappropriate apps. Parents can further customize these settings, including gradually granting access to content and apps as they deem appropriate. Apple has also introduced "Ask to Browse" for websites, functioning across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with Safari, and this feature is enabled by default for children under 13.

Furthermore, parents can now control contact additions and block explicit media in text messages. Apple collaborated with experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, to develop initial screen time recommendations based on age and app category. These redesigned controls aim to provide parents with an easier way to monitor and adjust their child's device activity, with updates slated for release in iOS 27 this fall.