Apple Releases New Parental Controls for Child Accounts and Messaging as Critics Say It Shifts Burden to Parents
Apple announced expanded parental controls for apps, websites and contacts on its devices at its annual conference in Cupertino. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the changes were partly inspired by Australia's under-16 social media ban.
EuronewsApple announced new child safety controls at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California on Monday. The controls let parents manage the apps, websites and contacts their children can access on Apple devices. The company introduced a new child account that gives parents control over Ask to Browse, time allowances, and screen time settings.
A new dedicated website for parents adds to existing features such as screen time passcode notifications and user reporting tools. Messaging apps on Apple devices will now blur graphic images by default and alert parents, expanding earlier safeguards that focused on nudity. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Apple chief executive Tim Cook called him to give advance notice of the changes.
"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," Mr Albanese said. Australia's social media ban began on December 10 and stops children under 16 from creating and using accounts on several social media platforms.
Sumbul Desai, Apple's vice-president of health and fitness, said the new tools would let parents "tailor their kids' digital journey" on Apple products.
"At Apple, our mission has always been to create technology that empowers people and enriches their lives, while helping keep them safe," Ms Desai said. Lisa Given, a Distinguished Professor of Information Sciences at RMIT University, said the changes were a step in the right direction but placed the onus on parents.
"I think one of the challenges with this is that type of a shift puts a lot of control into parents' hands, but that means the onus is on the parents," she said.
Professor Given noted that tech companies had pushed back against the social media ban at the platform or app level, arguing it should be managed at the device level. "Australia has definitely got the world talking about this issue," she said. In June 2024, Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society had examined options for policing phone manufacturers regarding an under-age ban.
Ms Inman Grant has been contacted for comment on the new Apple features.
