Apple App Store requires dating and AI companion apps to be rated 18+

On 3 November 2026, TechCrunch reported that Apple has changed its App Store policy to require all apps offering dating or romantic relationship features to carry an 18+ age rating, affecting AI companion apps such as Character.AI and Replika. According to the report, from 16 November developers must add new content description items so that age ratings reflect an app's actual features; apps that share a user's real location with others must also declare it. Apple said the move is part of a series of measures to protect minors, following its global rollout of age verification technology and additional parental controls. The policy has been announced but the 16 November deadline has not yet arrived, and developers must add the content descriptions before then.

Written by AI from the reports · updated 3 h ago

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