At its Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple introduced a host of tools designed to put parents back in control over how their kids are using the iPhone. This includes features that let parents decide who a child can talk to, what apps they can use, whether they can visit specific websites, and access to other tools to block inappropriate texts, manage screen time schedules, find age-appropriate app suggestions, and more.
The redesigned version of its Screen Time controls builds on the technology Apple already offers, expanding its capabilities in new ways with more granular controls. This comes as the mental health impacts of technology on children’s development have come to the foreground of people’s minds, and as new laws and regulations are attempting to rein in kids’ access to devices and social media.
When creating a child’s accounts on a new device, Apple will tailor safeguards to their age, blocking adult websites, allowing only age-appropriate media, and setting age-based restrictions on the App Store. Parents can adjust these settings if they prefer, but now they can go even further.
Image Credits:Apple
For instance, parents can start off by providing kids access only to the content they’re comfortable with, then add more over time, as they deem it appropriate. Apple will make smart app suggestions upon setup, letting parents pick whether they want to only give a child access to the essentials, or if they want to pick and choose specific other apps the child can use. This particularly makes sense for younger kids getting iPhones, like tweens and other school-aged children, who may not be ready for all the social experience an iPhone provides.
In addition, parents will be able to control access to which websites kids can browse, too — a feature that’s been much in demand since kids have historically used websites to work around parental controls that would restrict access to certain apps, often social media.
This feature, “Ask to Browse,” works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with Safari, Apple notes. And it, along with “Ask to Buy” for apps and games, is on by default for kids under 13.
Parents will also be able to control which contacts the child can add to their contacts, and can opt to block media arriving in text messages that may include gore or violence. A similar feature has already been available to block possible nudity, to assuage sexting concerns.
Image Credits:Apple
The company’s existing Screen Time controls lets parents set up a schedule and choose which apps are available on which days and at which times. The feature helps parents limit access to things like social media during school hours, but not on weekends.
What’s new is that Apple is now relying on experts’ advice to make some initial screen time allowance recommendations, based on a child’s age and the app category. Apple said it consulted with the American Academy of Pediatrics and others on this feature. The company also pointed in particular to the fact that social media apps aren’t advised for children under 13, which is why Apple may suggest that category is turned off for younger kids.
Image Credits:Apple
The Screen Time feature has been redesigned, as well, to make it easier for parents to see how kids have been using their devices, and to allow parents to adjust that access with just a tap.
App developers, meanwhile, are offered a full suite of APIs that let them protect against nudity and violent content in apps, help ensure parents approve any new contacts in apps, or ensure a child is of age to use their app, among other options.
The new parental controls will roll out to consumers with the release of iOS 27 in the fall.
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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has named Mogaji Olusegun Agboola as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Oyo State.
Agboola emerged after the party’s substitution plenary held in Ibadan on Tuesday, where members ratified the replacement of Michael Okunlade as the party’s governorship flagbearer.
The party said the decision marked a new phase in its preparations for the 2027 governorship election and charged Agboola with strengthening the party’s structures, reconciling members and taking its message across the state’s 33 local government areas.
Speaking after his emergence, Agboola said the SDP was contesting the election to win, not to negotiate political deals with other parties.
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“The SDP is here to stay and our intention is to take over this state. There’s no negotiation on the table as far as we are concerned,” he said.
He promised to introduce a different approach to governance if elected.
He argued that Oyo State needed to move beyond what he described as conventional ways of running government.
“Our administration will focus on developing Oyo State’s human and material resources by creating systems that will help residents turn their skills and abilities into sustainable economic opportunities,” Agboola said.
He also invited other governorship candidates to a public debate on their policy proposals and urged aggrieved party members to return, saying the SDP would operate an open-door policy.
Earlier, the outgoing governorship candidate, Michael Okunlade, congratulated Agboola and described his emergence as an important step for the party.
He praised party members for conducting the substitution process peacefully and thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for monitoring the exercise.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has arrived in Jos, Plateau State capital, a few hours after leaving Benue State.
While in Benue, youths beloved to be political thugs blocked a major access road to prevent Obi from entering the state capital, Makurdi.
Obi said he was heading to Yelewata to visit the families of victims of the June 2025 massacre when his convoy was stopped by some youths at Gyado Villa along Gboko Road.
He said: “I’m using this occasion to appeal to the IG of police, the Director of DSS, and other agencies to please intervene and call various state governors to order, I was a governor myself. This rascality cannot be allowed, we have a country, we too have followers and people who can confront these people on our own if the state and the government can no longer provide us security.
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“We cannot go on this way, it’s not acceptable. This was why when I participated in the presidential campaign office launch of APM yesterday, I said we need unity, love, justice, and let this campaign be concentrated on ideas and issues that concerns Nigerians today like insecurity, hunger, insecurity, killings, and how we are going to pull our people out of poverty, that’s what it should be.”
The incident has generated reactions with human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, saying that the attackers were toying with fire.
Similarly, Obi’s running mate in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, called on the international community for protection of opposition leaders.