Apple published its family guide on 29 September 2026. Announcement.
Ask to Buy covers App Store downloads and purchases, including in-app purchases. Ask to Browse applies to websites in Safari. Approval can happen in Messages or on the device; defaults vary by age and region. These are described settings, not a promise that every browser or third-party service is covered. App and website chapter.
The request itself can tell you something useful. A child may want to draw, join friends, watch a particular creator, or try a game they heard about at school. Begin with that purpose, rather than assuming every request has the same meaning.
Ask three ordinary questions
“What do you want to do with it?” gives the conversation a starting point. “Who will you use it with?” helps explain the social part. “What happens if we wait until the weekend?” can reveal whether the download is urgent, exciting, or simply the thing everybody is discussing today.
These questions should make the choice clearer, not turn curiosity into an interrogation. Listen to the answer before opening the app listing.
Read the current listing together. Look for the developer, the purchase model, and the activities the app encourages. If a detail is unclear, make that uncertainty part of the decision. You do not need to pretend that a familiar-looking icon tells you everything.
Make the answer understandable
If you approve, explain what you agreed to try and when you will check in. If you decline, describe the particular concern. A clear answer is more useful than a mysterious rule that changes depending on who is holding the phone.
You can also offer a different route to the same purpose. A child who wants to make a short film might need a simpler creative tool, rather than the social platform where they first saw the idea.
