Apple Introduces New Child Safety Features to Let Parents Control App Access
For years, Apple has positioned itself as a privacy-first company, ensuring that user data remains protected. However, with growing concerns over children’s digital safety and app access, the company is now rolling out new child safety features that aim to give parents greater control over their children’s online experiences.
Age-Sharing Feature for Safer App Experiences
Apple’s latest initiative introduces an age-sharing system, allowing parents to share their child’s age range with app developers. This feature ensures that children interact with age-appropriate content while maintaining privacy protections. Unlike direct age verification methods, which Apple has argued could compromise sensitive user information, this system will let developers access only generalised age data rather than specific birthdates. Parents will have full control over this feature, choosing whether to enable or disable age-sharing. Apple is positioning this as a middle-ground approach that balances child safety with user privacy—an issue that tech giants like Meta, Snap, and X have debated in recent years.
Revamped App Store Ratings & Content Visibility
Apple is also overhauling its App Store rating system to provide a more granular approach to age-based content restrictions. The updated system introduces a five-tier rating structure:
- 4+
- 9+
- 13+
- 16+
- 18+
Additionally, developers will now be required to disclose whether their apps contain user-generated content or advertisements, helping parents make informed decisions about which apps are suitable for their children. Apple has also confirmed that apps with age ratings exceeding a child’s parental settings won’t appear in recommended sections of the App Store.
Simplified Child Account Setup & Age Correction
Recognizing that setting up child accounts has often been cumbersome, Apple is introducing a new streamlined setup process for Child Accounts. This includes the ability for parents to correct their child’s age if it was mistakenly entered during setup. This small but crucial update ensures that children’s accounts align with their actual age, allowing age-based restrictions to function properly.
Industry Reactions & Next Steps
Apple’s new child safety updates come as lawmakers and tech companies debate who should be responsible for enforcing age restrictions. Meta has previously pushed for OS-level age verification, while Apple has resisted such moves, citing privacy risks. Meta spokesperson Jamie Radice, in a statement to The Verge, acknowledged Apple’s new approach but emphasized that parents should have full control over their child’s app downloads, not just age-sharing settings. Apple has yet to provide a specific launch date, but the company confirmed that these child safety enhancements will roll out later this year. As online safety becomes an increasingly important discussion, Apple’s latest move signals an effort to provide more robust digital protections for children while upholding privacy standards.
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