Apple Expands iOS 27 Child Safety to Under-18s as Ask to Browse Adds Web Approval
Updated
Updated · The News International · Jul 13
Apple Expands iOS 27 Child Safety to Under-18s as Ask to Browse Adds Web Approval
2 articles · Updated · The News International · Jul 13
Summary
Apple’s iOS 27 child-safety overhaul extends Communication Safety protections to users 17 and under, blurring nudity, violence and gore across Messages, FaceTime, AirDrop, Shared Albums and Contacts.
Two new permission tools drive the update: Ask to Browse makes children request Safari access through Messages, while a parallel system requires parental approval for new contacts in Phone, FaceTime and Messages.
Roughly 6-minute child-account setup now starts with tighter app controls, and Screen Time shifts to category-based time allowances with age-specific recommendations and customizable limits.
Apple will first launch in-app reporting for CSAM and other abusive material in 4 countries — Australia, Brazil, the US and the UK — instead of reviving its abandoned 2021 iCloud photo-scanning plan.
The changes follow years of pressure from child-safety advocates and ongoing litigation, including a West Virginia lawsuit alleging Apple’s practices helped shield child sexual abuse material.
Facing lawsuits and AI threats, will Apple revive the controversial photo-scanning technology it once abandoned to fight child abuse?
With Apple's new safety net only covering its own apps, are children left unprotected on platforms like TikTok and Instagram?
Apple Empowers Parents with Major Child Safety Upgrades in iOS 27: Flexible Controls and Expert-Guided Features
Overview
Apple is introducing major updates to child safety and parental controls with iOS 27, giving parents more granular control over their children's digital experiences. The new system allows parents to easily set and adjust time allowances for device usage across different app categories like entertainment, games, and social media. With these enhancements, parents can also customize which apps their children can access and at what times throughout the day and week. This empowers families to tailor device usage to their specific needs and routines, making it easier to create a safer and more balanced digital environment for kids.