Apple Overhauls App Store Age Ratings

[MacRumors]

Apple has announced an overhaul of the App Store's age rating system across all of its platforms.

The company has added three new age rating tiers — 13+, 16+, and 18+ — to the existing 4+ and 9+ classifications. At the same time, the 12+ and 17+ categories are being removed.

The new framework is designed to give parents more control and clarity over which apps are appropriate for their children and to better align App Store ratings with region-specific standards. As part of the rollout, Apple has reassigned age ratings for all existing apps and games based on the responses developers previously provided in the App Store Connect age rating questionnaire.

Developers are now required to complete an updated version of that questionnaire, which includes several new mandatory questions covering in-app controls, app capabilities, medical or wellness content, and violent themes. These answers will be used to recalculate the app's age rating.

Apple is requiring developers to complete the updated questionnaire by January 31, 2026. After that date, developers who have not responded will be unable to submit new app updates in App Store Connect until they do so.

The new age ratings are now live in the beta versions of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26. They will become visible to the public when the updates are officially released in the fall.

Article Link: Apple Overhauls App Store Age Ratings

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yes, everything is now for kids

All their operating systems are getting converted into "FisherPriceOS"

 

[roklanhavok]

I believe the 18+ rating is likely intended to allow for the possibility of adult content apps. Apple has a notable gap in that area, and if alternative app stores emerge that support adult apps, a lot of users will flock to them. People tend to go where sexual content is available. It'll be interesting to see how this develops.

 

[Naraxus]

I believe the 18+ rating is likely intended to allow for the possibility of adult content apps. Apple has a notable gap in that area, and if alternative app stores emerge that support adult apps, a lot of users will flock to them. People tend to go where sexual content is available. It'll be interesting to see how this develops.

I'm rather surprised there's not an alternative app store just FOR adult content/apps

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm rather surprised there's not an alternative app store just FOR adult content/apps

Where?

In EU you mean?

We'd all love to have alternative App Stores, but Apple doesn't allow them anywhere they aren't "forced to".

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I believe the 18+ rating is likely intended to allow for the possibility of adult content apps. Apple has a notable gap in that area, and if alternative app stores emerge that support adult apps, a lot of users will flock to them. People tend to go where sexual content is available. It'll be interesting to see how this develops.

Assuming that Mastercard and Visa don't strongarm Apple into continuing their ban on adult content, of course. We've seen this recently with Valve and Itch.io, and historically with Patreon and PayPal.

I fear the sanitization of the internet will continue unimpeded.

 

[klasma]

Originally I thought the age display was for how old the app is.

 

[ThisIsMike]

I'm rather surprised there's not an alternative app store just FOR adult content/apps

Apple should just offer their own: Apple After Dark, Hardcore meets Apple core.

 

[timber]

The original rating system seemed fine to me but having an adult separation does make sense.

 

[Tozovac]

How about fixing the useless parental controls that let a 14 year old override any parental controls. Ridiculous.

 

[NMBob]

Wait...a 16yo can vote in the UK, but they can't view adult content? What the... Something seems messed up.

 

[JM2]

Apple should just offer their own: Apple After Dark, Hardcore meets Apple core.

21+ rating then? Roku ditched all their "private" channels awhile back. Seems silly to dismiss such a large potential audience when safe guards (like credit card verification) can be put in place.

 

[Tozovac]

Wait...a 16yo can vote in the UK, but they can't view adult content? What the... Something seems messed up.

The voting allowance is messed up.

 

[knappeduivel]

It is not just adult stuff; my Storz & Bickel vaporizer can not connect to my iPhone or iPad because Apple doesn't allow the app in their store.

 

[ikramerica]

How about fixing the useless parental controls that let a 14 year old override any parental controls. Ridiculous.

Or that show ads for rated R content everywhere.

The Streamers are the guilty party, but an app with parental controls shouldn’t be allowed to advertise content the controls are blocking. Some of the streamers even show the content in search results and then tell you that you aren’t authorized to watch it.

AppleTV+ also shows age inappropriate splash ads on the kids account when they are just looking to watch Snoopy.

 

[lusty]

I fear the sanitization of the internet will continue unimpeded

The nice thing about the Internets is that there are so many of them. Its just routing and DNS, and nobody forces you to use the US controlled DNS root servers.

 

[lusty]

Wait...a 16yo can vote in the UK, but they can't view adult content? What the... Something seems messed up.

Wait until you see guns and drinking in the US! 🤣😂🤣

 

[con2apple]

I believe the 18+ rating is likely intended to allow for the possibility of adult content apps. Apple has a notable gap in that area, and if alternative app stores emerge that support adult apps, a lot of users will flock to them. People tend to go where sexual content is available. It'll be interesting to see how this develops.

I think it's more of a legal reason.
In many countries, adulthood begins at 18, not 17. To avoid lawsuits, Apple prefers to set the age limit higher.
That's just my thesis.

 

[klasma]

The nice thing about the Internets is that there are so many of them. Its just routing and DNS, and nobody forces you to use the US controlled DNS root servers.

That’s only until there’s a law that bans using anything but the official government-approved internet.

 

[russell_314]

I'm rather surprised there's not an alternative app store just FOR adult content/apps

I don’t see this happening. If Apple doesn’t think people should be allowed to have an app to control their vape do you really think they’re going to allow an app that shows corn? 😂

 

[call-151]

Anyone tried to update the age ratings responses in ASC in response to the "Action required" email notification? All fields for all of my apps are pre-populated and/or greyed out. Can't update anything, can't make the "Update Your Age Ratings Responses" notification go away.

 

[JapanApple]

dating apps, etc.? Or extreme violence? Or sexual content? Well, that's all thought out. It's turning out that what's been going on with YouTube creators and age-restricting. It doesn't work

 

[ProbablyDylan]

The nice thing about the Internets is that there are so many of them. Its just routing and DNS, and nobody forces you to use the US controlled DNS root servers.

Until you try to sell or buy something. Only a handful of payment processors.

 

[klasma]

If Apple doesn’t think people should be allowed to have an app to control their vape do you really think they’re going to allow an app that shows corn? 😂

What’s wrong with corn?

 

[NMBob]

What’s wrong with corn?

It's the shape of the ears and all that hair. Dirtiest vegetable of them all...aside from the eggplant.