Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Apple Executive Chair Tim Cook considers Australia’s social media curbs “world-leading.” Albanese made the remarks after meeting Cook at Apple Park in California.
Reuters was reported the comments, made in televised remarks on Sunday, September 20, in which Albanese said Cook spent much of that morning with his delegation.
Apple Answered With a Post About Its Child Safety Controls
Asked about Albanese’s remarks, an Apple spokesperson pointed to a post from Cook on X. Cook wrote that he was grateful to share some of Apple’s newest innovations with Albanese, including “strong and intuitive controls to help keep kids safe online.” The post does not mention the ban.
Apple did not say which controls Cook showed. The company began rolling out redesigned parental controls in iOS 27 on September 15. Ask to Browse requires a parent to approve any new website a child opens in Safari. Communication Safety now covers gore and violent content as well as nudity, and it applies by default to accounts registered as under 18. Time Allowances give parents age-based starting points for screen time in categories such as social media, entertainment, and games. A redesigned Screen Time interface adds one-tap controls.
Cook is in a new role now, he stepped down as Apple CEO at the end of August after 15 years, and John Ternus took over on September 1.
Albanese also used the trip to raise artificial intelligence. He said the technology is moving quickly and that governments need to discuss a global framework so humans stay in control. The visit comes as industry leaders are split over how fast to build AI, amid a safety debate in Silicon Valley, and Albanese’s position contrasts with President Donald Trump, who has downplayed AI concerns and argued that more regulation is unnecessary.
Other Governments Are Following Australia’s Lead on Children and Social Media
Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, a law that took effect in December 2025. Other governments have followed this year:
- In September 2026, Australia announced a plan that lets social media users choose the content they see in their feeds.
- The European Commission has proposed a ban for children under 13, the latest government to follow Australia’s lead.
