Apple Restricts Dating Apps and AI Companions to Users 18 and Up
Apple is tightening its App Store policies to make it harder for minors to access online dating apps and AI companions that engage in "sexual or romantic content," the company announced to developers on Monday.
The new rules build on a series of child-safety measures Apple has rolled out in 2026, including a global expansion of its age assurance technology and additional parental controls and child safety features previewed earlier this year.
New Age-Rating Requirements
While most major dating services already restrict their platforms to adults, Apple's policy will now require every app offering dating or romantic relationship features to carry an 18+ rating. Starting November 16, developers must include new content descriptors so that their app's age rating accurately reflects its features, the company said.
The impact on AI companion apps—or apps where companion functionality is just one of many features—may prove more significant. Often aimed at younger audiences, apps like Character.AI and Replika let users create AI companions, including friends, lovers, romantic partners, and other fantasy characters.
Last year, xAI also launched 3D animated AI companions that allowed users to unlock NSFW capabilities. As of last summer, top AI companion apps across the Apple App Store and Google Play had been downloaded 220 million times globally.
Location-Sharing Disclosure
Beyond "dating and relationships," apps will also be required to disclose whether they share a user's real-world location with another person or group as part of their functionality. Such features raise obvious privacy concerns, particularly when users are unaware that their location is being shared.
Regional Exception: Brazil
Apple noted that in Brazil, apps offering location-sharing features for families can request an official rating from the government's Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP / Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública) instead of being required to list them under the A16 rating mandated by local law.
The Bigger Picture
The policy change reflects a broader regulatory and platform-level push toward stronger age verification and child-safety protections. By mandating explicit content descriptors and 18+ ratings for dating and romantic AI features, Apple is placing the burden of accurate age classification on developers—while giving parents and regulators a clearer signal about what an app actually offers.
via TechCrunch AI