Apple has introduced new measures to further improve the safety of children when using its devices and services. In a recent white paper, the company describes how it gives parents more control while protecting privacy. In addition to a revised setup for children's accounts, new age ratings and an API for developers are also being introduced. Apple wants to ensure that children only see content that is appropriate for their age.
As children's use of digital devices increases, so does the need for protection. Parents want to ensure that their children are not exposed to inappropriate content without having to share sensitive data such as birth dates. Apple uses a combination of parental controls, improved age ratings and a new developer API to ensure safety.
Children's accounts are being improved
Apple simplifies the setup of child accounts in iOS 18.4, which is currently available as a beta version. When setting up an iPhone or iPad for the first time, users can select an age group:
- Child: 12 years or younger
- Teenagers: 13 to 17 years
- Adult: 18 years or older
Based on this selection, appropriate parental controls are automatically activated. If parents enter their child's age incorrectly, they can correct it later. Children under 13 must then be connected to a family group to enable full parental control. If full account creation is postponed until later, child-friendly default settings will still be active. This way, children can use their device safely right away, while parents can take care of the detailed settings later.
Developers receive age information via API
One of the most important innovations is the introduction of the Declared Range API. This allows parents to tell developers the age group of their child without revealing exact birth dates or other personal information. Apple sees the responsibility for age verification not at the marketplace level, but with the app developers themselves. The company draws a comparison with shopping centers: While individual stores have to check age if they sell alcohol, for example, it would not make sense if every visitor had to state their age when entering the shopping center. With the new API, developers can query the age group of a child's account and provide appropriate content based on this. Parents retain full control over whether and what information they pass on.
New age ratings for apps
Until now, Apple had four age rating levels for apps. These are now being refined and expanded to six levels:
- 4+ years
- 9+ years
- 13+ years
- 16+ years
- 18+ years
This more detailed classification allows for more precise age control when using the app. Age ratings are not only relevant in the App Store, but also in other areas such as screen time or purchase requests.
More security in the App Store
Apple is introducing further measures to make the App Store safer for children. When a child browses the store, only apps that are approved for their age will be displayed. This particularly affects the "Today", "Games" and "Apps" tabs. In addition, developers are being encouraged to provide more information about their apps. This includes information about in-app purchases, advertising and user-generated content. Apple will also highlight more clearly whether an app offers parental controls or age verification.
Apple's approach to age verification
The issue of age verification is a topic of discussion, particularly with regard to social networks and other apps with age-restricted content. Some lawmakers are demanding that Apple and Google be responsible for verifying user data. Apple, however, rejects this and argues that control should lie with individual developers. Apps that are legally required to verify age can continue to use their own methods, such as ID checks. But for most apps, it is sufficient for parents to provide an approximate age via the API without disclosing sensitive data. Apple emphasizes that data protection is its top priority. A central age verification for all users would mean that Apple would have to collect extensive personal data, which is not in the spirit of data minimization. The new API ensures that parents can decide for themselves what information they share with developers.
Apple sets new standards for child safety in the digital space
Apple is going with these innovations an important step towards safer digital use for children. The improved setup of children's accounts, the more precise age restrictions and the new API for developers give parents more control without having to disclose sensitive data. The new measures ensure that children only see content that is suitable for their age. At the same time, the responsibility for age verification remains with the developers, which strengthens data protection. With these changes, Apple is sending a clear signal for safe and data protection-friendly use of digital devices by children. (Image: Apple)
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