Apple is introducing new developer content questionnaires and mandatory 18+ age ratings for dating and relationship services to restrict youth access to adult-focused features.
Submissions begin November 16.
Under the new guidelines, apps with dating features will automatically have a minimum age requirement of 18. Apple's definition includes services that connect people for romantic purposes, as well as artificial intelligence digital companions that offer erotic or romantic content.
Which apps are blocked for children?
This means that children with parent-controlled accounts will no longer be able to download popular dating apps like Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder, as well as artificial intelligence virtual companion services like Replika and Nomi AI.
When it comes to location-sharing apps, Apple notes that the impact on age restrictions depends on the laws of each region. For example, in Brazil, where people under 16 are prohibited from accessing such services, the rules will apply as normal. In contrast, in the United States, children will be able to continue downloading location-based apps. It is currently unknown whether these location features will be marked separately in the store for parents' convenience.
Implementation schedule
App creators will start seeing the new content questionnaires starting November 16. Answers to these questions will become mandatory whenever an app is updated or when a new one is submitted.
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Apple will begin enforcing the rules on all apps by January 12, 2027, without specifying what the penalty will be for apps that do not comply in time.
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