Apple's iOS 27 has officially launched, bringing significant improvements to parental controls designed to enhance child safety on digital devices. This update is particularly timely, coinciding with legislative actions aimed at improving online safety for children.
Streamlined Setup and Enhanced Monitoring
The new features respond to feedback from parents managing their children's device usage.
Apple Development Team
- Streamlined device setup prompts automatic parental controls activation.
- Syncing across family devices ensures consistent monitoring.
The revamped parental control system is designed to be user-friendly. When setting up a new or reset device, users will be prompted to create a child account, which activates parental features linked to the parent's iCloud account.
iOS 27 also introduces chat monitoring on iMessage, blocking inappropriate content in messages and FaceTime. Additionally, it features a new 'Time Allowances' system, allowing parents to set specific screen time limits for different app categories.
These updates come amid growing concerns over children's online safety, especially following recent incidents of school violence and online threats. The House has passed legislation aimed at tightening safety measures for minors using social media.
To take advantage of these new features, all devices in a Family Sharing group must be updated to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27.