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Apple's New Child Safety Features Include Letting Kids Ask to View New Sites

Kids will be able to request permission to do things like browse new websites or buy apps.

Corin Cesaric-Epple CNET 08 Jun 2026, 19:18 2 min read 6/10

Apple's New Child Safety Features Include Letting Kids Ask to View New Sites

Key Takeaways

Apple announced the new child safety feature at WWDC 2026, part of its annual developer conference.
The feature allows kids to request permission to browse new websites, expanding beyond the existing 'Ask to Buy' for app purchases.
Permission requests are routed through Family Sharing, enabling parents to approve or deny on their own devices in real time.
This builds on Apple's Screen Time framework, which was introduced in iOS 12 and has been updated yearly with new parental controls.
The feature is expected to launch with iOS 20 in fall 2026, according to Apple's typical release schedule.

Kids will soon be able to request permission to browse new websites or buy apps on their iPhones, marking Apple's latest push in child safety. At WWDC 2026, Apple unveiled new child safety features that let children send permission requests to parents for actions like visiting unfamiliar websites or making in-app purchases. The update builds on existing tools like Screen Time and Communication Safety, giving families more granular control. The new feature integrates with Family Sharing, allowing parents to approve or deny requests in real time via their own devices. It extends the existing 'Ask to Buy' system, which already covers app downloads, to include website access and purchases outside the App Store. Apple's child safety features have evolved significantly since Screen Time debuted in iOS 12, adding Communication Safety in iOS 15 and sensitive content warnings in later releases. Analysts say this move addresses growing concerns about kids' online autonomy and the balance between safety and privacy. Parents now have a direct way to monitor and manage their child's online exploration without blocking content outright. The feature is expected to roll out with the next major iOS update in fall 2026, likely iOS 20. As digital parenting continues to evolve, Apple's child safety features are setting a new standard for proactive, permission-based controls on consumer devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Apple's new child safety features allow kids to request permission from parents to browse new websites or make purchases. The feature integrates with Family Sharing and requires parental approval.

Children can send a permission request through the device interface when they attempt to access a new website or buy an app. The request is routed to the parent's device via Family Sharing for approval.

Similar to existing parental controls like Screen Time, the new permission system is built at the system level and cannot be easily bypassed without a parent's Apple ID password or Face ID.

Apple offers Screen Time for managing device usage, Communication Safety to blur sensitive images, and 'Ask to Buy' for app purchases. The new website permission feature adds to this suite.

Apple announced the features at WWDC 2026. They are expected to launch in fall 2026 with the next major iOS update (likely iOS 20).

Parents can set up child safety through Settings > Screen Time > Family. They enable features like Communication Safety and the new website permission request under Content & Privacy Restrictions.

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