Apple is redesigning Screen Time and overhauling child controls

The Verge Products

Summary

At WWDC 2026, Apple announced a major overhaul of Screen Time parental controls, introducing recommended time allowances, 'Ask to browse' for web access, and enhanced messaging controls, based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

<figure> <img alt="Apple’s Screen Time redesign." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Apple" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/WWDC_SCREENTIME.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">At WWDC 2026, Apple announced an overhaul to its Screen Time parental control tool that aims to improve its safeguarding features to protect children who use iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. Some of the new features coming with Apple's iOS 27, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/942546/apple-ipados-27-wwdc-2026">iPadOS 27</a>, and macOS 27 updates include giving parents and guardians more control over who their kids can talk to in Messages, and what content or apps they can access, and recommended time allowances in Screen Time.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The guidelines that Apple is following for these features are based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, with Apple saying that experts have warned that children under …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/945898/apple-parental-controls-child-accounts-wwdc2026">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
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# Apple is redesigning Screen Time and overhauling child controls Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/945898/apple-parental-controls-child-accounts-wwdc2026](https://www.theverge.com/tech/945898/apple-parental-controls-child-accounts-wwdc2026) [Skip to main content](https://www.theverge.com/tech/945898/apple-parental-controls-child-accounts-wwdc2026#content) Recommended time allowances for apps and ‘Ask to browse’ are coming to Apples devices\. Recommended time allowances for apps and ‘Ask to browse’ are coming to Apples devices\. by Jun 8, 2026, 5:55 PM UTC ![WWDC_SCREENTIME](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/WWDC_SCREENTIME.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400) ![WWDC_SCREENTIME](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/WWDC_SCREENTIME.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400) Image: Apple [![Jess Weatherbed](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/author_profile_images/195820/JESSICA_WEATHERBED.0.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=96)](https://www.theverge.com/authors/jess-weatherbed) Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture\. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews\. At WWDC 2026, Apple announced an overhaul to its Screen Time parental control tool that aims to improve its safeguarding features to protect children who use iPhone, iPad and Mac devices\. Some of the new features coming with Apple’s iOS 27,[iPadOS 27](https://www.theverge.com/tech/942546/apple-ipados-27-wwdc-2026), and macOS 27 updates include giving parents and guardians more control over who their kids can talk to in Messages, and what content or apps they can access, and recommended time allowances in Screen Time\. The guidelines that Apple is following for these features are based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, with Apple saying that experts have warned that children under 13 shouldn’t have access to social media apps\. “We’re giving parents powerful, easy to use tools to help manage what kids can see, who they can talk to, and when they have access,” Apple software engineering chief, Craig Federighi, said during the keynote\. **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Jess Weatherbed ## The Verge Daily A free daily digest of the news that matters most\.

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