ECNETNews reports that Apple is set to enhance its app safety features later this year, introducing new age assurance policies aimed at addressing the ongoing debate surrounding online child protection.
A recently unveiled white paper outlines Apple’s plans to expand its Child Account settings, refine App Store Age Ranges, and offer app developers more robust mechanisms for establishing age-restriction settings for minor users.
Apple emphasizes the importance of protecting children of all ages from online threats, stating, “The digital world is increasingly complex and the risks to families are ever-changing, including the proliferation of age-inappropriate content and excessive time on social media.” The company highlights its long-standing support for specialized child accounts, allowing parents to effectively manage parental controls and provide a suitable digital experience for children under 13.
Introducing Age Range for Developers
This year, Apple will launch its privacy-focused Declared Range API, which enables developers to request an approximate age range for Child Account users, as approved by parents. This feature aims to tailor app experiences more accurately and enforce access limits for age-restricted applications. Minor users will be notified with a “share age range” prompt, which can be disabled at any time. While developers may still require government identification for their apps, it will not be mandatory for general App Store access.
This policy marks a significant move by Apple amid ongoing discussions concerning “age assurance” and verification. Tech leaders and lawmakers are exploring various strategies to verify the ages of young users on social media platforms and within app marketplaces. Some industry voices argue that app marketplaces should bear responsibility for preventing minors from accessing platforms that provide age-restricted or harmful content, while multiple state legislatures have proposed age verification laws — the efficacy of which remains debated.
Legislation addressing this issue also emphasizes digital privacy, with some proposals advocating for an outright ban on minors accessing specific online spaces. The Kids Online Safety Act, put forward in 2023, mandates that online platforms implement robust privacy settings for underage users and impose a “duty of care” on social media companies.
In contrast, Apple is promoting a policy that shifts the responsibility to app developers rather than marketplaces, aiming to minimize data collection. “Some apps may find it appropriate or legally required to use age verification to keep kids away from inappropriate content. However, most apps do not. Thus, addressing the dangers of age-restricted content online is best handled by the limited number of websites and apps that host such content,” Apple asserts.
Streamlining Youth Account Management
Apple’s upcoming updates will also enhance the Child Account setup process, allowing parents to define safety settings for users aged 13 and younger more easily, as well as for device owners under 18 who opt-in voluntarily. During device setup, parents can select from pre-defined safety settings based on age range or use default child settings, enabling young users to configure devices with Apple’s guidance. Parents will retain the authority to modify settings later.
To support these advancements, Apple will refine its age ranges for apps, implementing specific thresholds that include:
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4+ years old
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9+ years old
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13+ years old
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16+ years old
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18+ years old
Additionally, Apple plans to broaden its content visibility restrictions for youth accounts, ensuring that applications outside the selected age ratings do not appear in the Today, Games, and Apps tabs or within editorial features and collections.
