• Source:JND

Apple is expanding its family safety tools with a fresh set of parental controls aimed at helping parents manage their children's digital lives more easily. The new features, arriving later this year with iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, cover everything from app access and website permissions to screen time limits and communication approvals.

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The update builds on Apple's existing Child Account system, which automatically enables age-appropriate protections across devices. While parents have long been able to approve app downloads and purchases through Ask to Buy, Apple is now taking things a step further with a feature called Ask to Browse. As the name suggests, children will need permission before accessing a website that hasn't been approved by a parent.

Apple is also making it easier for families to decide what apps appear on a child's device from the start. Rather than handing over unrestricted access, parents can choose a small set of essential apps, select from a curated collection, or manually decide what their child can use. More apps can then be added over time as needed.

Communication controls are getting an upgrade too. Parents will be able to review and approve new contacts before their children can start conversations through Messages, FaceTime or Phone. At the same time, Apple's Communication Safety feature is being expanded beyond nudity detection. The tool will now also step in when graphic violent or gore-related content is detected in shared photos and videos.

Screen time management is another major focus of the update. Apple is introducing Time Allowances, giving parents more flexible controls over how long children can spend across app categories such as gaming, entertainment and social media. Parents will also be able to create schedules that automatically limit access to certain apps during school hours or other parts of the day.

The company is redesigning Screen Time as well. The refreshed experience offers a clearer look at a child's device habits, including their most-used apps and average daily usage. Parents can quickly adjust restrictions, pause access during family activities, or grant extra time when needed without navigating through multiple menus.

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Alongside the software changes, Apple has launched a dedicated online resource centre for parents and says it is continuing to work with child development experts and organisations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics to improve digital wellbeing tools.

The new parental controls will be available through upcoming updates to iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 later this year.This version reads more like a consumer tech story, prioritises the most important changes first, avoids repetitive corporate language, and flows naturally from one feature to the next rather than turning the article into a feature checklist.


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