Key facts
- Apple released iOS 27 on Monday with new AI features.
- iOS 27 introduces enhanced parental controls for children's iPhones.
- New parental controls include real-time access adjustment, website browsing permission requests, and category-based app time limits.
- Communication Safety in iOS 27 can filter graphic or violent material and nudity from shared images, videos, and FaceTime calls.
- Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes, stated that the changes make parental controls smoother and more intuitive.
- McKenna also noted that the update does not fix all potential workarounds for children intentionally seeking to bypass controls.
Apple released its latest software update, iOS 27, on Monday, which includes significant enhancements to parental controls and an AI-powered Siri. The update aims to provide parents with more granular oversight of their children's iPhone usage.
Key parental control features in iOS 27 include a redesigned Screen Time dashboard that allows parents to adjust a child's access in real-time. The 'Ask to Browse' feature requires children to obtain parental permission before visiting new websites in Safari. Additionally, 'Time Allowances' enables parents to set limits for specific app categories like social media, games, and entertainment. Apple also stated that its 'Communication Safety' feature can now filter out nudity and graphic or violent material from shared images, videos, and live FaceTime calls.
Chris McKenna, founder and CEO of the digital-safety organization Protect Young Eyes, described the changes as helpful for parents navigating controls, noting that they make the process smoother and more intuitive. However, McKenna also pointed out that the update does not address all potential circumvention methods that a determined child might employ.