What changed
Apple announced new App Store policies that will require dating apps and AI companion apps featuring sexual or romantic content to carry an 18+ rating. Starting November 16, developers must include new content descriptors to ensure their app’s age rating reflects its features. The policy applies to apps offering dating or romantic relationship features, as well as those that share real-world locations with other users.
What this means in practice
The new rules will impact AI companion apps such as Character.AI, Replika, and xAI’s 3D animated AI companions, which allow users to create AI relationships, including romantic ones. These apps, often targeted at younger users, will now need to carry an 18+ rating. Additionally, apps that share real-world locations with others will need to disclose this functionality, raising privacy concerns if users are unaware of location sharing. In Brazil, apps with location-sharing features for families can request an official rating from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security instead of the standard A16 rating.
Limitations and availability
The policy applies globally, with exceptions for regions like Brazil, where local laws allow for different rating processes. The change does not specify how developers will implement the new content descriptors or how the age assurance technology will enforce these restrictions. The supplied announcement does not specify the exact mechanism for enforcing the 18+ rating or how the age assurance technology will be integrated into the App Store.
