The new iOS 27 child safety features I'm most excited about as a parent

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Apple iPadOS WWDC News Kids
Maria Diaz/ZDNET

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iOS 27 isn't arsenic flashy an operating strategy update arsenic its predecessor, but is it the iterative update we needed? Forget the Liquid Glass overlays and refractive app icons -- arsenic a parent, immoderate of the child information features announced astatine WWDC 2026 are among my favorites. 

Apple focused connected improving what kids tin spot connected their devices, erstwhile they person entree to definite types of content, who they speech to, and however parents tin usher their children done instrumentality use. I'm peculiarly blessed to spot that Apple has yet improved the genitor acquisition erstwhile controlling their child's entree to their device, particularly the quality to intermission it and set surface time.

Also: iOS 27 is here: How to download the developer beta now

Here are the champion iOS 27 kid information features that Apple announced today:

1. Shortcuts for surface clip control

Apple iOS 27 Screen Time Child Safety
Maria Diaz/ZDNET

One of the astir adjuvant updates coming to iOS 27 is simply a redesigned surface clip acquisition for parents. Instead of having to excavation done your child's settings to power their downtime, you'll find shortcuts for speedy controls close erstwhile you entree surface clip on the apical of your screen.

Also: Apple conscionable announced iOS 27, and here's which iPhones enactment it

These controls volition see buttons to rapidly intermission instrumentality usage, let unlimited use, oregon alteration a schedule. The surface clip controls are akin to Amazon Kids' parental controls, which fto you easy intermission and resume your kids' tablets.

2. Approve websites arsenic needed

Apple iOS 27 Screen Time Child Safety
Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Letting a nine-year-old browse the net is simply a daunting task for a parent. Turning connected "safe browsing" features sounds reassuring, but what is harmless is highly subjective and changes depending connected the child, their age, the time, and the parent. Parental controls already fto you set which websites your kid tin access, but with arsenic galore harmless and unsafe sites arsenic determination are online, it's virtually intolerable to adhd each the sites you see harmless for your kids.

Instead of blocking oregon allowing entree to the full internet, Apple present lets kids inquire for support to sojourn a caller website, which is sent to parents via Messages. Kids with an Apple kid relationship tin already petition support to download caller apps and widen their surface clip for circumstantial apps. Parents tin o.k. oregon contradict the petition straight wrong the Messages app, arsenic they tin present with app approvals.

3. Violence and gore content

Apple precocious added a diagnostic that blurs perchance delicate contented and warns the idiosyncratic earlier allowing them to presumption it. The diagnostic besides gives the idiosyncratic the enactment to interaction a genitor earlier viewing it. This diagnostic is meant to emblem nudity, and Apple is expanding it to perchance convulsive and gory content.

Also: Apple glossed implicit AirPods' caller customized EQ - but it's a large deal

If a kid receives oregon attempts to nonstop a photograph oregon video that whitethorn incorporate convulsive content, the instrumentality volition pass them and blur the image, adjacent connected FaceTime calls.

Apple besides upgraded the mode parents tin acceptable clip allowances, letting them easy set clip limits for entertainment, games, and societal media. You tin customize this to your kids' needs passim the time and week by choosing which apps are disposable to them and when.

WWDC 2026 culminated successful caller Apple Intelligence features, including a smarter Siri and improved image-generation capabilities, coming to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, WatchOS 27, tvOS 27, VisionOS 27, and MacOS 27 Golden Gate. 

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