Parents take note. Apple has just announced a group of new initiatives to help better protect children while using the company’s devices.
Apple Is Making It Even Easier for Parents to Set Up a Child Account
First, Apple will be making it easier for parents to set up Child Accounts. These are required for children under age 13 and offer all of Apple’s child safety tools.
A new setup process will streamline the steps parents need to take to set up an account. If a parent waits until later to setup a child account, child-appropriate default settings will still be enabled on the device. When set up is complete, kids will be able to use the App Store and other services using the content and app restrictions selected by parents. Parents will also be able to correct the age associated with the Child Account if it wasn’t set up correctly.
Apple is also making it easier for app developers to know a child’s age. Previously, children would enter their information on the app, and could easily lie to unlock all of an app’s features. Developers can use a Declared Range API that will provide the age range information provided by the parent during setup.
When an app requests the information, there will be a pop-up on the screen like when an app requests to use the device’s camera. With that information, the app developer can better provide an age-appropriate experience. The developer won’t see an actual birthday, just an age range.
Apple is also expanding the number of app age ratings. Currently, there are four options—4+, 9+, 12+, and 17+. But Apple will update those ratings with 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, and 18+. Kids can’t download apps that exceed the age range set by a parent.
All the improvements will be available to parents and app developers in 2025.
Some Notable New Features to Help Protect Kids
As a parent of two kids who can’t get enough of their iPhone and iPad, I’m very pleased with all of these changes. Apple is making it easier for me, and parents around the world, to better customize how their children can use the technology and stay safe.
While these Apple tools are helpful, communication is still key between kids and parents. If you’re a parent, ensure totalk to your children about general online safety. It goes a long way to help prepare kids to better understand the sometimes dangerous digital world.
