Apple’s new feature to control kids’ phone use

Bloomberg

Apple Inc. said it plans new features to help parents control how children use its smartphones, responding to criticism from two shareholders about the entrancing qualities and potential mental health impact of the company’s iPhone.
“Apple has always looked out for kids, and we work hard to create powerful products that inspire, entertain, and educate children while also helping parents protect them online,” a spokeswoman said.
IPhones and other Apple devices running the company’s iOS operating system let parents control and restrict what their children consume, including apps, movies, websites, songs and books, as well as cellular data, according to Apple.
“We have new features and enhancements planned for the future, to add functionality and make these tools even more robust,” the Apple spokeswoman added.
In a letter to the smartphone maker, activist investor Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System urged Apple to create more ways for parents to restrict children’s access to their mobile phones. They also want the company to study the effects of heavy usage on mental health.
The “growing societal unease” is “at some point is likely to impact even Apple.”