Apple says it is working on new features to protect children

Apple has responded to criticism from two shareholders that it needs to do more to give parents options to combat excessive smartphone use by children. The company says it is working on new features.

Apple communicated this to various media, including Bloomberg. The company says it has “always been mindful of children” and that it develops products that help parents protect their children online. About the new features, it says, “We have new features and improvements planned to enhance these tools.”

The announcement from Apple is in response to criticism from two shareholders, who say they own two billion dollars in shares of the company. They believe that Apple should create tools that allow parents to limit excessive smartphone use by children. They therefore published an open letter on a specially made website.

Apple has previously responded to such calls. For example, there was an extra check on purchases, because many parents received high bills for in-app purchases from children. Apple has a large market share among American youth. According to recent figures, 76 percent of American teens own an iPhone.