Apple has today released a new guide on building healthy digital habits for families, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The guide walks through six steps that families can use to discuss how they use their devices, to help "balance screen time with sleep, exercise, schoolwork, and time with friends and family."
Here are the six steps Apple and the AAP recommend:
- Start a conversation about screen time
- Set up a Child Account
- Set safety settings for websites and apps
- Make a schedule for device use
- Manage your child's contacts
- Keep the conversation going as your child grows
This new guide comes after Apple debuted a suite of new child safety and parental control features with iOS and iPadOS 27. Apple's VP of Health and Fitness, Sumbul Desai said that the "guide helps facilitate easier discussions and gives families the resources they need" and promoted their new tools that are "designed to adapt to each family and each child’s stage of development".
In September, Apple overhauled the Screen Time interface with new controls, such as Time Allowances and Schedules, and added a new website approval feature.
This guide comes at a time when there is increased pressure on large tech companies by governments to keep children safe online. Late last year, Australia introduced a world-first social media ban for under 16s, and Apple may be trying to get ahead of any action against their platforms with a new guide and built-in tools.
