Revamped parental controls are coming to iPhone, Mac, and More

Apple is set to profoundly reshape how parents manage their children's digital lives, announcing a comprehensive overhaul of its Parental Controls at WWDC 2026, rolling out with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 this fall. The Cupertino giant is introducing robust new features like 'Ask to Browse' for Safari and significantly expanding 'Communication Safety' to proactively block gore and violent content, alongside existing nudity blurring, marking its most substantial update in years. This aggressive push comes amidst an increasingly intense global regulatory environment and heightened societal anxieties surrounding children's online safety and Digital Wellness. With the UK imposing new deadlines on tech firms and the US advancing critical legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and COPPA 2.0, Apple move is a calculated response, preempting potential mandates while burnishing its credentials as a responsible platform. The company is also collaborating with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to ensure its tools are informed by expert guidance. As the updates debut later this year, parents can anticipate a simpler setup for Child Accounts, redesigned Screen Time interfaces, and flexible Time Allowances for app categories, moving beyond mere individual app limits. This suite of enhancements will inevitably intensify pressure on competitors to bolster their own child safety features, all while setting a new industry benchmark for ecosystem-wide Digital Wellness management and likely influencing future legislative debates.