Apple Communication Safety: What It Does
Apple's Communication Safety feature can detect nudity in photos and videos a child sends or receives, stepping in with a warning and age-appropriate guidance before the content is viewed or sent.
Published: 2026-03-20
What Changed
Apple's Communication Safety feature can detect nudity in photos and videos a child sends or receives, stepping in with a warning and age-appropriate guidance before the content is viewed or sent. On recent iOS versions it covers Messages and also other routes such as AirDrop and video messages in FaceTime. Detection happens on the child's device — Apple does not see the content — and the feature is managed through Screen Time, where it is switched on by default for young children in a Family Sharing group.
What to Review
- •Keep your child's Apple devices updated, then open Screen Time settings and confirm Communication Safety is turned on for their account.
Parent Actions
- 1Explain what the warnings look like and agree that your child will tell you if one ever appears.
Full app guide
View the complete Apple safety guide
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
Sources
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Last reviewed: 2026-03-30