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Ahmad al-Sharaa  ·  2026-09-17 00:00

Apple expands child safety, parental controls in latest software updates

Washington, Sept. 17 (SANA)Applehas introduced newchild-safetyandparental-controlfeatures across its latest operating system updates, giving parents more detailed tools to manage the content children see, who they communicate with and how long they use apps.

Apple said in a Sept. 14 post on its Newsroom website that the features are available with iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, after being previewed in June.

Among the new tools is Ask to Browse, which allows parents to require approval before children access a new website in Safari. Apple has also introduced a simpler setup process for new child accounts, including a recommended set of essential apps.

The updates add Time Allowances, which provide age-tailored guidance for setting limits on time spent in categories including social media, entertainment and games. A redesigned Screen Time gives parents an overview of device usage and one-tap controls to adjust access.

Apple has also expanded Communication Safety to block gore and violent content, in addition to nudity, in images and videos shared by children, including during live FaceTime calls.

The company said the updates were developed with guidance from online safety and health experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, with which Apple is working to adapt the academy’s Family Media Plan into guidance for parents using Apple products.

Apple has also launched a dedicated child-safety website providing information about the new tools and instructions for families on how to use them.

For the updated Screen Time features to work across a Family Sharing group, all devices in the group must run the latest applicable software, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 and visionOS 27, Apple said.

Some features may not be available in all regions, languages or device models.