That is an ideal Apple<\/a> says it shares\u2014the company wrote that the goal of the iOS<\/a> updates is to create<\/a> a safer online experience for kids, “whether they\u2019re young children, preteens or teenagers.”<\/p>\n The updates will drop later this year for parents and developers, according to the company. <\/p>\n The change is due to<\/a> “age assurance obligations” in several locations, including Louisiana<\/a> and Utah<\/a>, as well as Brazil<\/a>, Australia<\/a> and Singapore<\/a>.<\/p>\n As of July 2025, sites and apps that host pornography<\/a> were required to have “strong age checks” in place in the U.K<\/a>.<\/p>\n In September, Brazil passed new legislation\u2014which will go into effect in March\u2014in an effort to protect children from encountering adult content online prematurely, with President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva criticizing the tech<\/a> industry for its lack of self-regulation.<\/p>\n In December, Australia passed a law banning children from social-media platforms<\/a> if they are under the age of 16\u2014a world-first measure aimed at protecting kids from the dangers of social media. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Finally, Louisiana requires that users of pornography<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n What To Know<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Apple can verify a user’s age based on the age of their account or by using the payment method connected to the account. <\/p>\n One user on Reddit<\/a> noted that they were able to scan a government ID to prove their age.<\/p>\n In Louisiana and Utah, Apple will share age categories with developers in order to comply with laws. In a Q&A on its website<\/a>, Apple confirmed that developers are “responsible for preventing access to your app or features when required.”<\/p>\n What People Are Saying<\/p>\n![\"Apple](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2235337400-1.jpg\"\/)
Why It Matters<\/p>\n