Apple has started to roll out age-verification requirements in the U.K. for the beta version of iOS 26.4, according to multiple posts on social media.
The change comes as laws have tightened regulation of social media and other apps in several locations in an effort to keep children safe online.
That is an ideal Apple says it shares—the company wrote that the goal of the iOS updates is to create a safer online experience for kids, “whether they’re young children, preteens or teenagers.”
The updates will drop later this year for parents and developers, according to the company.
Why It Matters
The change is due to “age assurance obligations” in several locations, including Louisiana and Utah, as well as Brazil, Australia and Singapore.
As of July 2025, sites and apps that host pornography were required to have “strong age checks” in place in the U.K.
In September, Brazil passed new legislation—which will go into effect in March—in an effort to protect children from encountering adult content online prematurely, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticizing the tech industry for its lack of self-regulation.
In December, Australia passed a law banning children from social-media platforms if they are under the age of 16—a world-first measure aimed at protecting kids from the dangers of social media.
Utah passed a law in March 2025 stating that anyone under the age of 18 would need parental permission before they could download a new app. The law puts the onus of verification on app stores.
Finally, Louisiana requires that users of pornography prove their age via a government-issued ID. The state attempted to pass a law requiring that social-media sites verify user age as well, but it was struck down as unconstitutional.
What To Know
In screenshots on social media, Apple users in the U.K. showed that they were informed by Apple that they “will not be able to download and purchase apps or make in-app purchases” without verifying their age.
Apple can verify a user’s age based on the age of their account or by using the payment method connected to the account.
One user on Reddit noted that they were able to scan a government ID to prove their age.
In Louisiana and Utah, Apple will share age categories with developers in order to comply with laws. In a Q&A on its website, Apple confirmed that developers are “responsible for preventing access to your app or features when required.”
What People Are Saying
Commenters on Reddit’s r/iOS forum were not happy, with one writing, “Okay look, I ‘own’ this device. It already has my license, insurance, and debit/credit cards connected to it.
“Any app or website I visit should 100% believe I am an adult. Any further ‘proof needed’ is absolute bulls***.”
“The issue is that they are being forced to do so against their will,” another noted. “Their phone will be almost completely disabled (no 3rd party apps) if they don’t give in. It’s barbaric.”
Some users, however, felt Apple was making the best of a bad situation.
“Definitely a lot better than a lot of these other companies have done where you have to either make a face scan into an AI server or send them a full-on copy of a photo ID,” one pointed out.
What’s Next
iOS 26.4 is anticipated later this spring.
Newsweek has reached out to Apple for comment via email.