Enhancing Child Account Features on Apple Devices
Apple has taken significant strides to simplify the process for parents when establishing Child Accounts. These accounts are designed with the intent of safeguarding children as they navigate an iPhone or iPad. Importantly, all Child Accounts come equipped with settings that are suitable for their respective age groups. Looking ahead, a future update in iOS will allow parents to amend their children’s ages listed in these accounts.
Empowering Parental Control on Mobile Devices
Currently, parents have the ability to create a Child Account directly on their iPhones and iPads, implementing parental controls based on age restrictions. This setup enables kids to utilize Family Sharing features, send messages, access the App Store, and enjoy other services while keeping their parent’s personal information safe from view. Now Apple is enhancing these protective measures even further.
On Thursday, Apple announced with anticipation that upcoming changes in the forthcoming release of iOS 18.4 will introduce an option during device setup that allows users to specify the age of a child when creating a new Child Account. If this information isn’t provided by parents during setup, default safety settings tailored for children will still be activated automatically.
“This ensures that children can begin using their devices securely right away,” an Apple representative stated. “And during this time, parents can rest easy knowing that protective features are firmly in place.”
This year will also see enhancements allowing parents to adjust their child’s age associated with an Apple account after its initial creation. For users under 13 years old, this adjustment will transition the account into a fully-fledged Child Account with Apple’s comprehensive parental control options activated by default. Additionally, it is encouraged for families to link these accounts within shared family groups.
Simplifying Age Verification for Apps
In another initiative announced Thursday regarding future developments scheduled for 2025, Apple plans to enable parents to communicate their children’s age ranges directly with third-party applications. App developers can leverage this information effectively to tailor and offer content suitable for specific age demographics.
This advancement promises user privacy protection as part of its framework—ensuring unethical companies do not gain unrestricted access to sensitive details like ages or birth dates.
The company’s white paper elaborates on instances where “certain applications may need age verification” as mandated either ethically or legally—to shield minors from adult-oriented materials.
Additionally noteworthy is that sharing each child’s age category remains at the discretion of each parent; they retain full control over whether they wish this detail disclosed at any time in the future.
