San Francisco, United States: Apple has announced new child safety features aimed at protecting young users while navigating growing pressure to implement stricter age verification measures.
Key Features Introduced
- Declared Age Range: Parents can now set their child's age range when creating an Apple child account, allowing app developers to tailor content accordingly.
- Streamlined Child Account Setup: Apple is making it easier for parents to set up and verify child accounts, mandatory for users under 13 and optional for those up to 18.
- Enhanced App Store Transparency: App product pages will now include more details on user-generated content, advertisements, and parental controls.
Age Verification Debate
Apple’s move comes as several U.S. states, including Utah and South Carolina, push for laws requiring app stores to verify children’s ages through official documents. Tech giants like Apple, Meta, and Google have clashed over who should be responsible for age verification—app developers or platform operators.
Industry Reactions
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, called Apple’s update a "positive first step" but argued that it "does not go far enough." The company supports legislation requiring app stores to obtain parental approval before minors download apps.
Some features have already been rolled out in Apple’s latest software updates, while the complete system is expected to launch later this year.
