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Apple Mandates 18+ Ratings for Dating and AI Romantic Companion Apps
· Confirmed
In Short: Apple has announced new age rating requirements for dating and relationship apps, including AI companions, on the App Store.
Apple has announced new age rating requirements for dating and relationship apps, including AI companions, on the App Store.
According to Apple, developers must provide detailed disclosures about their apps when submitting updates or changing their age rating questionnaires. These disclosures will cover location-sharing features and dating or relationship functionalities, including certain virtual companions.
Apple’s developer documentation introduces two new App Store Connect declarations: 'Dating and Relationships' and 'Shared Location.' These declarations will change how a wide range of apps are rated, ensuring that age ratings accurately reflect the content.
In Brazil, local regulations require an A16 rating for shared location and an A18 rating for dating. Every app on the store must complete both declarations by January 12, 2027, according to Apple’s developer news post.
Apple TV will introduce Sign Language interpretation on Friday, November 13, giving viewers an option to watch supported films with signing alongside the movie. The Sign Language feature requires at least iOS 27.2 or iPadOS 27.2 on mobile devices, with macOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and visionOS 27.2 also supported.
Apple TV costs $14.99 a month, and new subscribers can try the service free for seven days. The Sign Language feature will launch alongside the global streaming premiere of Being Heumann.
Apple announced a range of new products on October 13, including Apple HomeView, HomeView (Wall Mounted), HomePod mini 2, Apple TV 4K (4th generation), and Apple Home Collection. U.S. Prices for these products range from $39.95 for a sensor to $399.95 for a floodlight camera.
Apple has officially announced HomeView, its new £299 smart display designed to control your home, make video calls, and keep everyone connected.
Apple HomePod mini 2 pre-orders opened on October 13 in pink, green, blue, white, and midnight, with availability in stores beginning Friday, October 30.
Apple’s new iPhone 18 Pro Max must have its battery capacity limited to below 20Wh before shipping, a process that can be undone after 14 days.
Apple is expanding its App Store age-rating questionnaire with new disclosures covering location sharing and dating or relationship features, including certain virtual companions.
Industry estimates put leading AI companion apps at roughly 220 million combined downloads across the App Store and Google Play before the announcement. This figure should be treated as an approximation.
What this adds
These expanding restrictions also aim to keep apps away from both AI chatbots that support sexual or romantic interactions and virtual 'girlfriend/boyfriend' simulators that could pose mental health risks. The new rules will affect dating apps, AI companions, and services that allow users to share their real-world location.
In September 2024, Europe’s highest court upheld a ruling requiring Ireland to recover approximately €13 billion, equivalent to roughly A$22.8 billion, in unlawful tax advantages granted to Apple.
Apps with dating and relationship features will receive a minimum age rating of 18+, Apple said. Apps that include Shared Location may not have an impact on their minimum age rating in some regions.
Background
These expanding restrictions also aim to keep apps away from both AI chatbots that support sexual or romantic interactions and virtual 'girlfriend/boyfriend' simulators that could pose mental health risks.
Apple today announced new age rating requirements for apps on the App Store, targeting those with location-sharing features, dating functionalities, and AI romantic companions.
What's confirmed
- Apple today announced new age rating requirements coming to the App Store, covering apps with location-sharing features, as well as dating and relationship features.
What's still developing
- The developers at Edovia built version 5.10 around Apple hardware and its high performance screen sharing framework.
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- The US technology giant, which is attempting to take on Samsung, Google and Amazon in the increasingly competitive home automation market, is facing questions over why its new entertainment and smart home hub cannot independently run several of Apple’s own premium content services.
- In September 2024, Europe’s highest court upheld a ruling requiring Ireland to recover approximately €13 billion, equivalent to roughly A$22.8 billion, in unlawful tax advantages granted to Apple.
- A smaller group focuses on developer disclosures, while a few use more forceful language about tightening rules. 11 of 16 outlets · 11 of 16 headlines analysed These headlines state that dating or AI companion apps will receive an 18+ rating; they describe the announced classification rule without claiming that Apple has independently blocked every minor from access.
- A hands-on report on the Apple Watch app found that users can type or dictate a request and read Muse’s response on the watch.
- The App Store release notes identify the Apple Watch companion as the main addition in version 15.0.
- Apple last week launched a new iPhone Handoff feature, which lets you use a single phone number across two iPhones.
- According to Apple, the 'Prepare to Ship' feature discharges the battery to below 20Wh and sets a charge limit to ensure the iPhone stays below the threshold during shipping.
- Apple briefly touched $5 trillion on July 28, 2026, joining Nvidia as the only company to reach that mark.
- Apple’s capital expenditure related to AI infrastructure was just $11 to 12.7 billion in all of fiscal 2025.
- He began covering Apple news in Brazilian media in 2012 and later broadened his focus to the wider tech industry, hosting a daily podcast for seven years.