Apple is expanding child safety features with Ask to Browse in Safari, enabling children to request website access and have parents approve via Messages, rolled out after updating Screen Time on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

At WWDC 2026, Apple previews a broad suite of child safety tools—from content and communication to time-management controls—designed to give parents more oversight of their children’s digital experiences.

Ask to Browse aims to normalize parental controls as a conversational feature across Safari and WebKit on iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.

The Child Accounts framework remains central, with an enhanced setup that allows gradual access growth as children age.

Industry observers highlight Siri AI and Gemini-based capabilities as core privacy-conscious enhancements that could strengthen ecosystem lock-in.

Screen Time gets a major redesign with Time Allowances for category-based restrictions (gaming, social, entertainment), a redesigned dashboard, and clearer usage insights.

Time Allowances and Schedules offer flexible, age-tailored time management across apps, with daily schedules aligned to school or focus periods.

The redesigned Screen Time shows a child’s average device use and top apps, enabling quick restrictions during meals or outdoor time and granting extra time when needed.

Developers gain tools such as SensitiveContentAnalysis, PermissionKit, and Declared Age Range API to craft age-appropriate, privacy-protective experiences and request parental consent for new in-app contacts.

A privacy-focused age-range system and new development tools help avoid collecting exact birth dates while supporting age-appropriate app experiences.

These developer tools also facilitate parental consent for new in-app contacts within a privacy-first framework.

Experts stress child privacy as a central focus, with guardrails on screen time, content access, and communication amid mounting regulatory attention.