Apple to require 18+ age ratings for dating apps and AI romantic companions

Apple will require developers to declare location-sharing and dating/relationship features in the App Store Connect age rating questionnaire starting November 16, with apps offering dating or relationship connections between real people or a virtual companion engaging users in sexual or romantic content receiving a minimum 18+ rating. Apple said apps with shared location may not see a minimum rating change in some regions, while Brazil's regulations require an A16 rating for location-sharing apps and A18 for dating and relationship apps, subject to a lower rating request to the country's Ministry of Justice and Public Security. All apps must complete the declarations by January 12, 2027.

Apple today announced new age rating requirements coming to the App Store https://9to5mac.com/guides/app-store/ , covering apps with location-sharing features, as well as dating and relationship features. Here are the details. New age rating requirements take effect November 16 In an update to its Developer News blog, Apple today announced https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxkh08us that starting November 16, developers will be required to declare whether their apps include location-sharing or dating and relationship features when completing the age rating questionnaire in App Store Connect. Here’s Apple: When completing the age rating questionnaire in App Store Connect, you’ll need to declare whether your app includes: Shared Location: Sharing of real-world location with another person or group. Dating and Relationships: Features that enable dating or relationship connections between real people and/or a virtual companion that engages a user in sexual or romantic content. The company added that “apps that include Dating and Relationships receive a minimum age rating of 18+,” while “apps that include Shared Location may not have an impact on their minimum age rating in some regions.” Apple notes that in Brazil, local regulations require an A16 rating for apps with location-sharing features and an A18 rating for those with dating and relationship features. However, developers can request a lower official rating from Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security if they believe their apps qualify, such as those designed to let parents and children share their locations. Finally, Apple said developers must provide these declarations when submitting an app update or changing their age rating questionnaire, with all apps required to complete them by January 12, 2027. To read Apple’s full blog post, follow this link https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxkh08us . Worth checking out on Amazon FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. https://9to5mac.com/about/ affiliate our homepage http://9to5mac.com/ for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on exclusive stories https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/ , reviews https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/ , how-tos https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/ , and subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac