Apple Adds 6-Minute Child Account Setup in iOS 27 as Pressure Mounts Over Safety
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Jul 12
Apple Adds 6-Minute Child Account Setup in iOS 27 as Pressure Mounts Over Safety
1 articles · Updated · WIRED · Jul 12
Summary
iOS 27 will add a revamped child account flow that Apple says takes about six minutes, alongside new parental controls for web access, contacts, app access and screen-time management.
Ask to Browse will require parental approval before children visit new websites in Safari, while similar approval prompts will apply by default to new contacts in Phone, FaceTime and Messages.
Communication Safety is expanding beyond nudity to cover gore and graphic violence across more Apple services, and a new reporting tool for CSAM or other inappropriate material is rolling out first in Australia, Brazil, the US and the UK.
Apple framed the changes as privacy-preserving child protection, but advocates say protests, lawsuits and scrutiny over App Store "nudify" apps and deepfake content pushed the company to act.
The update stops short of reviving Apple's shelved CSAM photo-scanning plan, leaving the company still balancing child-safety demands against privacy and surveillance concerns.
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.