Apple announces new child safety & privacy features for protection against harmful content online

Without revealing the actual birthdate or age, parents can share information about the age range of their kids with apps to enable developers to provide only age-appropriate content.

In November 2024, Australia introduced new laws to prevent the children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. It is a measure to prevent them from seeing inappropriate content, and protect from cyber bullying and sexual predators.

Several other countries too are contemplating of bringing similar strict laws for app developers to create to robust age verification system. However, teens of the 21st century, who are digital natives are clever enough to circumvent those walls. 

Now, Apple has come up with new technology to improve child safety security online without compromising the user privacy.

Apple said it will first simplify the process for parents to set up accounts for children online and have more control on what their wards can see, who they can contact online and what apps they can install on the phone.

Also, parents can share information about the age range of their kids with apps to enable developers to provide only age-appropriate content. Most importantly, there is no need to share their birthdate or other sensitive information.

Also, Apple will make developers mark their apps with its global age ratings on the App Store and ensure the latter adheres to it. The App Store has five such ratings — 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+ and 18+ each having certain restrictions in terms of blocking ads related to gambling, sexual content, alcohol consumption up to the age of 18.

And, when kids browse apps on the App Store, they also won’t be shown apps with age ratings higher than the ones set by their parents in the places where Apple feature apps on its storefront.

“As the serious dangers to kids online continue to grow and evolve, we will keep building thoughtful tools and resources to help parents protect their families, and to help developers better meet their responsibilities. Apple will continue to focus on this vital work—because everyone has a part to play in keeping kids safe online,” Apple said.

In a related development, Google too has announced similar measures to improve the child's safety online. It will be using maching learning tech to detect the correct age of the child and block them any access to the adult content online.

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