Apple is rolling out stricter age requirements on the App Store, with a primary focus on dating apps and virtual companions. According to Gizmodo, the policy changes require developers to declare specific app features, leading to higher age classifications.
App Store Requirements and Deadlines
Starting on November 16, Apple will ask developers to state whether their applications include features facilitating sexual or romantic interactions between real people or with artificial intelligence companions. Applications containing these features will receive a minimum age rating of 18+. Additionally, developers must disclose whether their apps support real-world location sharing, which may prompt age adjustments based on local regulations such as a 16+ requirement in Brazil. All app developers must declare these features by January 12, 2027, at the latest.
While an 18+ rating does not instantly block minors from downloading an app, it allows parents to restrict access utilizing Apple parental control features like Screen Time and Ask to Buy, according to Apple documentation.
Context on AI Companions and Industry Shifts
Apple defines restricted AI chatbots as any virtual companion engaging users in sexual or romantic content. Several platforms currently host these capabilities, including chatbots with fewer content restrictions like Grok. SpaceX disclosures note that modes such as Grok's “Spicy” and “Unhinged” present heightened risks regarding explicit content and regulatory scrutiny. Meanwhile, OpenAI delayed the launch of its own “adult mode” for ChatGPT to prioritize performance improvements and core intelligence gains, as reported by The Guardian.
Experts cited by Gizmodo warn that AI companions can foster emotional dependence and overreliance, particularly among vulnerable users and minors who may struggle to separate virtual roleplay from reality, potentially leading to severe psychological impacts.