Apple shares new video promoting iOS 27 parental controls

Apple today shared a video promoting the new parental controls features added in iOS 27.

Apple says child accounts are easier to set up in ‌iOS 27‌ and more intuitive to use. Improved controls let parents choose the types of apps their children have access to, while Ask to Buy lets kids request new apps and games.

Ask to Browse gives parents a way to block or allow websites that children visit in Safari, and parents can decide who children can call and send messages. Communications Security in Messages and FaceTime detects and blocks violence and nudity in images and videos.

Time allocations and schedules allow parents to personalize what children can access by day, time and activity, with options to limit apps during school hours. There are one-click controls to completely pause access during family events like dinner time or allow unlimited screen time.

Apple’s updated parental controls come as the company faces regulatory pressure over child safety in countries including the UK, US and Australia. The UK has called for device-level controls to prevent children from viewing and sharing inappropriate images, while the US Children’s Internet and Digital Safety Act is currently in the Senate. Australia has already banned children under 16 from creating accounts on certain social media apps.

Apple’s new child safety features became available on September 14 with the launch of ‌iOS 27‌, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate. Each device in a Family Sharing group must be running the latest software version for the Screen Time update to work.