Overview

• iOS 26 will enter a public beta next month ahead of its September launch and will require children to request parental approval within Messages before contacting any new number.
• The Declared Age Range API allows parents to share a child’s age bracket with apps without revealing exact birthdates.
• Default web content filters and Communication Safety protections will extend to teens aged 13–17 even without a Child Account.
• The App Store will adopt five granular age ratings, including 13+, 16+ and 18+ tiers, and parents can grant exceptions for higher-rated downloads.
• Communication Safety updates will blur nudity detected in FaceTime calls and Shared Albums to safeguard minors’ privacy.