New Apple tools give parents more control over kids' device use

At Apple’s annual developer conference, WWDC 2026, the company introduced new tools to give parents control over how children use the iPhone. The new parental controls will roll out to consumers with the release of iOS 27 in the fall. The update represents a redesign of Apple’s existing Screen Time controls, offering more granular options to manage device usage, filter content, and restrict communications.

A central element of the update is the “Ask to Browse” feature, which allows parents to manage which websites their children can access. The feature works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices using the Safari browser. To simplify setup, both “Ask to Browse” and the existing “Ask to Buy” feature for apps and games will be turned on by default for children under 13.

The update includes several key features designed to help parents manage their children’s digital habits:

• Communication and Media Filters: Parents can control which contacts their children can add and block media arriving in text messages that contains gore or violence, or nudity.
• Screen Time Management: The system allows parents to set up schedules and choose which apps are available on specific days and times. The redesigned interface also makes it easier for parents to see device usage and adjust access with a single tap.
• Age-Appropriate Suggestions: During device setup, Apple provides smart app suggestions, allowing parents to limit access to essential apps or select specific applications.
• Expert-Backed Recommendations: Apple consulted with the American Academy of Pediatrics to establish initial screen time allowance recommendations based on a child’s age and app category.

Based on these consultations, Apple may suggest that social media categories are turned off for younger kids, particularly because such platforms are generally not advised for children under 13.

These changes arrive as the mental health impacts of technology on children’s development have become a foreground issue. By providing more direct oversight tools, Apple aims to help parents navigate these challenges as regulatory bodies also attempt to restrict kids’ access to devices and social media.

Why it matters

Apple is expanding its parental control tools as the mental health impacts of technology on children become a foreground issue and new regulations attempt to restrict kids’ access to devices and social media.