At its WWDC 2026 event, Apple unveiled a raft of features designed to give parents unrivaled control over their children’s iPhone usage. The new Screen Time controls are more granular than ever, allowing parents to decide who kids can talk to, what apps they can access and which websites they can visit.

The company is tailoring its safeguards based on the child's age, blocking adult content, limiting social media use for younger children, and offering smart app suggestions. Parents have the flexibility to tailor these settings as their children grow older, ensuring a safe tech experience from tweens right through to teenagers.

One of the standout features is Ask to Browse, which blocks kids from visiting certain websites unless they ask first. This feature works seamlessly across devices and is on by default for under-13s. Additionally, parents can restrict who children can add as contacts and filter out disturbing media in text messages.

The new controls also come with expert advice built-in, ensuring that social media apps aren’t accessible to those under 13. Apple’s Screen Time feature has been redesigned to provide a clearer overview of how devices are being used, allowing parents to make informed adjustments with just a tap.

For app developers, the new controls offer a suite of APIs to help maintain content safety and ensure parental approval for new contacts within apps. The new features will be rolled out in iOS 27 this fall, making tech-savvy parenting an easier task than ever before.