Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to the United States to meet Apple CEO Tim Cook after the tech giant unveiled new online safety controls for children.

Apple on Tuesday unveiled a suite of new child safety features designed to give parents greater control over their children's digital lives, including what they see, who they communicate with, and when they can access apps. 

Key updates include simplified child account setup, 'Ask to Browse' for website approvals, Time Allowances, and a redesigned Screen Time dashboard. 

Communication Safety will expand to block violent content as well as nudity. 

Apple says the tools are guided by expert research and tailored by age, while Cook revealed the changes were partly inspired by Australia's world‑leading social media regulations. 

'Our approach… is grounded in the belief that every child is unique,' Apple's Vice President of Health Sumbul Desai said.

In a statement on Tuesday, Albanese said Cook had personally briefed him on Apple's latest measures, describing them as part of a broader effort to respond to growing global concern about the impact of social media on young people.

'Today Apple CEO Tim Cook called me to outline a major announcement introducing new online safety controls for children,' he said. 

'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.'

Cook has invited Albanese to visit Apple headquarters to inspect the new safety technology first‑hand. 

'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,' Albanese said. 

'It's important we continue to learn and work with global partners on how best to protect our kids online.'

The Albanese government continues to defend its crackdown on social media companies, arguing the platforms must take greater responsibility for young users.

'Australian parents led this effort, and we are proud to stand with them,' Albanese said. 

'We have already seen more than five million accounts belonging to under‑16s removed, deactivated or restricted.'

The announcement comes six months after the social media ban was implemented in December. 

Despite the government arguing that more than 5million accounts had been removed, data from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner shows that around 70 per cent of under‑16s are still accessing age‑restricted platforms despite the ban. 

Last week, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told the Sydney Morning Herald that the process was 'rushed', which made it difficult to enforce. 

The legislation took just eight days to pass through federal Parliament in late 2024, with only 24 hours allocated for public consultation.