Apple expands child safety tools as social media bans grow

Apple is enhancing tools for parents to safeguard children online. New features will allow parents to manage app usage, content access, and communication for their kids. This comes as governments worldwide are restricting social media access for minors. These updates aim to help families establish age-appropriate digital protections and healthy online habits. Apple Inc. is expanding tools for parents to protect children online, a move that comes as governments around the world increasingly ban social media for young people. The iPhone and iPad maker at its Worldwide Developers Conference Monday previewed new features that will let parents better control on devices when kids can use apps, what content they can access and with whom they can communicate. Also read: Apple WWDC 2026 event keynote, highlights: New AI Siri, Apps to photo editing - details here Tech companies are under growing pressure to limit children's exposure to social media, which some psychologists have linked to mental health risks including cyberbullying, eating disorders and suicide. Apple already lets parents create special accounts for children, required for those under 13 years old and available for those up to 18. The updates are designed to help families "thoughtfully establish age-based protections and develop healthy digital habits," Sumbul Desai, Apple's vice president of health and fitness, said on the Cupertino, California-based company's website. Beginning with software updates this fall, parents will be able to use children's account features to pick which apps they can use and control which websites they can view, for example. Australia in December became the world's first democracy to force the likes of Meta Platforms Inc., TikTok, and Snap Inc. to kick under-16s off their platforms. The movement has since spread globally, with Indonesia, parts of India, the UK and several European countries implementing or discussing similar restrictions. Also read: Apple's new Siri AI is here: Here's how to access it and which devices support it Jury verdicts in the US in recent months against some of the services have increased public discussion of social media's harms. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook called him to discuss the new safety controls. "Mr. Cook told me these changes are in part inspired by Australia's world leading social media age ban, as well as the continued research Apple is undertaking into the impact of social media on kids," Albanese said in a statement. Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.