Apple chief executive Tim Cook has personally called Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to tell him that Australia’s world-leading social media age restrictions partly inspired the tech giant’s sweeping new suite of child safety features — and has invited him to visit Apple’s headquarters to see the technology in action.
Albanese announced on Tuesday that Cook had briefed him directly on Apple’s major new online safety update, which includes simplified child account setup, a new “Ask to Browse” feature requiring parental approval for website access, customisable Time Allowances, a redesigned Screen Time dashboard and an expanded Communication Safety tool that will now block violent content as well as nudity. Cook told the Prime Minister the changes were inspired in part by Australia’s legislation banning under-16s from social media, which passed through federal Parliament in just eight days in late 2024.
“Today Apple CEO Tim Cook called me to outline a major announcement introducing new online safety controls for children,” Albanese said in a statement. “He told me these changes are in part inspired by Australia’s world-leading action on social media age limits, as well as Apple’s ongoing research into the impact of these platforms on kids.” The Prime Minister confirmed he would travel to Apple’s California headquarters on his next US trip. “Mr Cook has invited me to visit Apple the next time I am in the United States to see this technology in action, and I plan to take up that offer.”
Apple’s Vice President of Health Sumbul Desai described the company’s approach as one grounded in the belief that “every child is unique,” with tools tailored by age and guided by expert research.
The announcement represents a significant moment of international validation for the Albanese government’s controversial legislation, which the Daily Mail reported has already resulted in more than five million accounts belonging to under-16s being removed, deactivated or restricted since the ban was implemented in December. “Australian parents led this effort, and we are proud to stand with them,” Albanese said.
However, the legislation has not been without criticism. Data from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner indicates that around 70 per cent of under-16s are still accessing age-restricted platforms despite the ban. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told the Sydney Morning Herald last week that the process had been “rushed,” making enforcement difficult — a pointed observation given that the legislation passed with only 24 hours of public consultation allocated.
The endorsement from Apple — the world’s most valuable technology company — nonetheless lends considerable weight to Australia’s argument that determined national legislation can move global industry. Whether the new Apple features will prove more effective in practice than the Australian ban itself remains to be seen.
