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Or sign-in if you have an account.Apple's new child safety tools are designed to help families "thoughtfully establish age-based protections and develop healthy digital habits" Photo by yalcinsonat1 /Getty Images/iStockphotoApple Inc. is expanding tools for parents to protect children online, a move that comes as governments around the world increasingly ban social media for young people.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe iPhone and iPad maker at its Worldwide Developers Conference Monday previewed new features that will let parents better control on devices when kids can use apps, what content they can access and with whom they can communicate.Tech companies are under growing pressure to limit children’s exposure to social media, which some psychologists have linked to mental health risks, including cyberbullying, eating disorders and suicide. Apple already lets parents create special accounts for children, required for those under 13 years old and available for those up to 18.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe updates are designed to help families “thoughtfully establish age-based protections and develop healthy digital habits,” Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of health and fitness, said on the Cupertino, California-based company’s website.Beginning with software updates this fall, parents will be able to use children’s account features to pick which apps they can use and control which websites they can view, for example.Australia in December became the world’s first democracy to force the likes of Meta Platforms Inc., TikTok, and Snap Inc. to kick under-16s off their platforms. The movement has since spread globally, with Indonesia, parts of India, the UK and several European countries implementing or discussing similar restrictions.Jury verdicts in the U.S. in recent months against some of the services have increased public discussion of social media’s harms.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook called him to discuss the new safety controls.“Mr. Cook told me these changes are in part inspired by Australia’s world-leading social media age ban, as well as the continued research Apple is undertaking into the impact of social media on kids,” Albanese said in a statement.Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. 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