Apple adds request‑based web and contact controls at WWDC

Apple unveiled a significant expansion of its parental control features at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, introducing a new request-based system for web browsing and contacts alongside automatic image filtering and a revamped Screen Time dashboard. The updates, set to roll out across iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, aim to give families more nuanced tools for managing children's digital access and safety.

The core change shifts the model from broad, static blocking to a permission-based approach. Children using managed Apple IDs can now send specific requests to a parent for approval. This includes asking to visit a particular website that would otherwise be blocked by filters and requesting to initiate contact with a person not already in their approved contacts list. Parents receive these requests and can review the site or individual before granting access on a case-by-case basis.

In parallel, Apple is upgrading its Communication Safety feature with automatic image filtering. The system will now detect and intervene when photos or videos containing potentially harmful content are sent to a child's device. This extends beyond nudity to include graphic violence...