Get the latest tech news

Apple's iOS 26 requires kids to get parental permission to text new numbers


As parts of new updates to its parental controls announced at WWDC 25, Apple has introduced a new feature that requires kids to get permission to text new numbers.

As part of new updates to its parental controls announced at WWDC 25, Apple has introduced a new feature that requires kids to get permission to text new numbers. That's among other new child safety settings including more granular age-based app ratings that will be introduced to the new iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26 operating systems coming this fall, Apple announced. Apple already employs safety features like web content filters and app restrictions for kids under 13, but it will now enforce "similar age-appropriate" protections for teens between 13 and 17.

Get the Android app

Or read this on Endgadget

Read more on:

Photo of Apple

Apple

Photo of Kids

Kids

Photo of new numbers

new numbers

Related news:

News photo

Apple’s 10 Biggest Challenges, From AI to Tariffs

News photo

Everything Apple Tried to Kill at WWDC 2025

News photo

Apple’s Craig Federighi on the long road to the iPad’s Mac-like multitasking | Federighi talks to Ars about why the iPad's Mac-style multitasking took so long.